USDA Confirms New H5N1 Detections in U.S. Dairy Cattle and Poultry

United States: H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detections have resumed in U.S. livestock and poultry after nearly 30 days without new updates, with USDA APHIS reporting infections in dairy herds in Texas and Utah and poultry outbreaks in South Dakota and Idaho.

The latest USDA data indicate three dairy herds were confirmed infected during the most recent 30-day reporting period—two in Texas and one in Utah. New poultry detections were also recorded in South Dakota and Idaho, demonstrating continued multi-species circulation of H5 viruses.

Why it matters

The renewed detections reinforce the need for continued dairy-herd surveillance, poultry biosecurity, movement controls and rapid reporting. USDA APHIS maintains separate surveillance systems for livestock and poultry HPAI detections and updates its livestock data regularly.

The development is also relevant from a One Health perspective. H5 viruses remain widespread among wild birds and continue to cause outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cattle, while sporadic human infections have occurred primarily among people with animal exposure. CDC currently characterizes the overall public-health risk as low, while continuing surveillance.