H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several cases of H5 in U.S. dairy workers. While the current public health risk is low, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures. CDC is using its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5N1 activity in people.
What CDC Is Doing to Respond to Bird Flu Outbreaks in Dairy Cows and Other Animals in the United States:
- CDC is working closely with USDA to monitor the current H5N1 bird flu situation in wild birds and poultry, dairy cows, and sporadic infections in other mammals, and will provide updates as information is available.
- CDC is the lead agency for human health.
- The U.S. Department of Interior and USDA are the lead federal departments for outbreak investigation and control in wild birds and agriculture.
- USDA APHIS is the lead agency for such activities in domestic birds and agricultural livestock.
- The risk to the general public from H5N1 bird flu is currently low. Learn more on cdc.gov.