574 HPAI Outbreaks in 22 Countries Since July; H5N1 in Mammals

The FAO’s Global Avian Influenza Viruses with Zoonotic Potential situation update reports 574 HPAI outbreaks/events across 22 countries/territories since late July, primarily H5Nx (371) and H5N1 (195), plus one H5N5 and one H7N3 event.

Notable spillovers include:

• USA: H5N1 in cattle, cats, American mink, striped skunk, and diverse wild birds.

• Australia: H5 in multiple wild bird species and New Zealand fur seals.

• Germany: H5N1 in turkeys (4,132 birds).

• China: H5N1 in chickens.

• India: Earlier H5N1 in poultry (46 birds) in April 2026.

Nine new human cases have been reported globally since the last update, reinforcing the One Health dimension of the current HPAI wave.

The FAO emphasizes continued surveillance at the human–animal–environment interface, particularly where wild birds, poultry, dairy cattle, and mammals intersect, and urges member countries to maintain biosecurity, rapid diagnostics, and transparent reporting.