Spain reports Bird Flu outbreak

SPAIN – A severe outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza has wiped out nearly all the turkeys at a fattening farm in Extremadura, Spain, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Authorities confirmed that 6,895 turkeys died from the H5N1 virus, while the 10 birds that survived were culled as a preventive measure.

The outbreak adds to the ongoing strain on poultry production globally, where repeated incidents have disrupted meat supply chains and contributed to rising food prices.

This latest case is part of a wider pattern of H5N1 outbreaks that have been reported across multiple regions, including North and South America, Asia, and Europe since late 2024.

The current avian influenza season, which began in October 2024, has already surpassed last year’s numbers in terms of poultry infections.

H5N1 crossing species barriers

The H5N1 virus is also spreading to non-avian species, with confirmed outbreaks in mammals across several countries in the Americas since 2022.

In 2024 alone, authorities recorded 982 outbreaks among mammals in Argentina, Canada, the United States, and the Falkland Islands.

Particularly worrying for public health officials are recent infections identified in U.S. dairy cattle, with states such as Ohio, Texas, Michigan, and Kansas reporting confirmed cases.

Wild birds continue to play a major role in the transmission chain, with rising infection rates documented across Europe since January 2025.

Human cases raise red flags

Although the general public is still considered at low risk, those in direct contact with infected animals — such as farm workers — face a moderate threat of infection.

Between 2022 and February 2025, 74 human infections linked to H5 viruses were confirmed across four countries in the Americas.

The United States accounted for the majority of those cases, with 71 people infected and three new infections reported in early 2025.

Health officials say the virus is mutating and requires ongoing monitoring to detect any signs of increased human-to-human transmission.

The World Health Organization continues to call for global vigilance, particularly when new human cases are identified, to prevent wider health emergencies.

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