March 7, 2022 Update: H5N1 Bird Flu Poses Low Risk to the Public - ISS-G20 Laboratorium Repository

More information about current H5N1 viruses

March 7, 2022—To date, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses (“H5N1 bird flu viruses”) have been detected in U.S. wild birds in 14 statesexternal icon and in commercial and backyard poultry in 13 statesexternal icon, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspective Service (APHIS). Based on available epidemiologic and virologic information about these viruses, CDC believes that the risk to the general public’s health from current H5N1 bird flu viruses is low, however some people may have job-related or recreational exposures to birds that put them at higher risk of infection. CDC is watching this situation closely and taking routine preparedness and prevention measures in case this virus changes to pose a greater human health risk.

Right now, the H5N1 bird flu situation is primarily an animal health issue. The U.S. Department of Interior and USDA APHIS are the lead federal agencies for this situation. They are respectively responsible for outbreak investigation and control of bird flu in wild birds and in domestic birds (poultry). USDA has publicly posted the genetic sequences of several of the recently detected U.S. H5N1 bird flu viruses. These viruses are from clade 2.3.4.4b*pdf iconexternal icon, which is the most common H5N1 bird flu virus worldwide at this time. Comparing information about these newer viruses to previously circulating H5N1 bird flu viruses helps inform the human health risk assessment.

Entire content available on: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/spotlights/2021-2022/h5n1-low-risk-public.htm