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American state that has the most human cases of Bird Flu – what you need to know Credits: Social Media
By Bruno Cooke

American state that has the most human cases of Bird Flu – what you need to know

By Bruno Cooke

The CDC has posted an update on the current situation regarding H5 bird flu, including information about infections among poultry flocks, mammals, and people.

Earlier this year, an expert predicted that the next dangerous pandemic could be spread via fungal infection. Bird flu has come and gone before �in January, it led to predictions egg prices would spike. As of July, there were just a handful of cases among humans so far this year, along with large numbers among animals. Where do we stand now?

Bird Flu Quarantine Prevention Measures
SYDNEY, NSW – SEPTEMBER 28: A sign warning of the dangers of importing avian products is displayed at Sydney International Airport September 28, 2005 in Sydney, Australia. The Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) has been on high alert for avian products (poultry meat, feathers, and eggs) at international ports since Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) was discovered in Asia. The recent outbreak in neighboring Indonesia has caused concern that the importation of bird products could lead to the disease arriving within Australia’s borders. Australia currently has one of the strictest quarantine policies in the world. (Photo by Ian Waldie/Getty Images)

Bird flu cases have been reported in 6 states so far

According to the CDCs latest update, there have been 36 cases of bird flu among humans so far in 2024. 

The two US states with the most cases are California and Colorado, with 16 and 10 respectively. There have been 6 in Washington.�

Michigan, Missouri, and Texas have seen 1 or 2 cases apiece. 

20 of the total cases have come from cattle, 10 from poultry, and 1 came from a source that hasnt been identified. 

In other words, the numbers remain low for human cases of bird flu. The same is not true for animals, with many millions of chickens being affected.

100 million birds have been affected by H5 bird flu

This particular strain of bird flu, which has been monitored since 2016, has affected nearly 104 million “wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry, and backyard or hobbyist flocks” since 2022.

The CDC has a map of all the US counties impacted by H5 bird flu outbreaks. It looks a bit like a Jackson Pollock painting.�

The two largest flocks to have been affected numbered just over 5 million. They were both in Iowa, in the spring of 2022. 

More recently, flocks numbering up to 1.8 million were affected in Utah, Washington, and Oregon. 

Meanwhile, as of October 22, 2024, just over 10,000 wild birds have been detected with H5 bird flu; 338 dairy herds have been affected; and there are 14 states with outbreaks in dairy cows.

What you can do to reduce our risk of catching avian influenza

The CDC recommends taking several measures to reduce the risk of contracting H5 bird flu, or any other strain of avian influenza.

  1. Avoid contact with wild birds and observe them only from a distance, if possible.
  2. If you find a dead bird, avoid contact with it, whether its wild or domestic. 
  3. Avoid unprotected exposure to infected live or dead animals or surfaces they might have contaminated.
  4. If you work with potentially infected dairy cows, avoid unprotected direct physical contact or close exposure with them and materials they may have infected.
  5. Dont drink raw (unpasteurized) milk or products made using raw milk.�

For more, visit the CDCs website and scroll down to Protective Actions for People. The CDC has separate articles relating to each individual topic.

For anyone visiting the US from abroad, the NHS recommends washing hands often with warm water and soap, especially before and after handling food; using different utensils for cooked and raw meat; ensuring meat is cooked until steaming hot; and avoiding contact with live birds.