Cooperative Extension Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

Genetic Sequences of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses Identified in a Person in Louisiana The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has sequenced the influenza viruses in specimens collected from the patient in Louisiana who was infected with, and became severely ill from HPAI A(H5N1) virus. The genomic sequences were compared to other HPAI A(H5N1) […]

First severe case of bird flu in a human in the U.S. reported in Louisiana December 18, 2024, by Jennifer Shutt A Louisiana resident has contracted the country’s first severe case of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a human, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Wednesday. The unidentified person is believed to have […]

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Announces Updates to Indemnity Program for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza on Poultry Farms December 30, 2024 As part of its ongoing efforts to stop the further spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and give farmers tools to help combat the disease, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal […]

Shelton animal sanctuary says 20 large cats are dead from avian flu outbreak December 31, 2024, by Conner Board The director of the Wild Felid Advocacy Center in Shelton said they went from having 37 cats to now just having 17. Some cats who survived are still recovering. The Washington State Department of Health has […]

UC Davis bird flu expert urges owners of backyard chickens to take precautions December 19, 2024, by Allie Rasmus DAVIS, California – With the spread of bird flu prompting an emergency declaration from Gov. Gavin Newsom this week, a veterinarian and epidemiologist at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, said people who handle backyard chickens could be […]

H5N1 Bird Flu Concerns Grow. Are COVID-19 Mistakes Being Repeated? December 3, 2024, by Bruce Y. Lee There’s a saying that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Will that be the case with the H5N1 avian influenza virus that’s been spreading among birds for years, jumped to dairy cattle […]

Bird Flu Virus Is One Mutation Away from Binding More Efficiently to Human Cells December 5, 2025, by Lauren J. Young A new study finds tweaking part of the H5N1 virus infecting dairy cows in a single spot could allow it to better attach to human cell receptors, raising concerns it could transmit more easily […]