Because H5N1 is a virus specifically evolved to attack birds, it isn’t as good at infecting the cells of mammals — yet. But if you can count on one thing for viruses to do, it’s mutate .

Experts urge U.S. to prepare for possible new pandemic as H5N1 bird flu outbreak spreads with dairy animal and human cases. Here's what to know.

H5N1 is one of the more common bird flu strains to make the jump from birds to humans. The infected birds spread the virus through their saliva, mucus and feces.

Recently, a new strain, H5N1 avian influenza, has shown all the earmarks of becoming that disease. Until now, it has largely been confined to certain bird species, but that may be changing.

Historically, human H5N1 infections were sporadic and always related to exposure to infected poultry. As of November 2024, more than 900 human cases in 24 countries had been reported, with ...

A bird flu pandemic with the potential to be “100 times worse than COVID” may be on the horizon after a rare human case was discovered in Texas, experts have warned. The H5N1 avian flu has ...

Although those vaccine materials were designed using versions of H5N1 flu from the early 2000s, a recent study suggests that they create an antibody response to the newer 2.3.4.4b versions that ...

Bird flu H5N1 is infecting people in the U.S. See the map of cases. Could it trigger the next pandemic? Experts explain the ...

Genetic evidence of H5N1 bird flu virus has been found in grocery store milk, according to the FDA. In this video, STAT explains what is known about the safety of milk on shelves.

Experts believe three more cats in Los Angeles County have been infected with H5N1 bird flu. Two others succumbed to the disease earlier this month after drinking recalled raw milk from Fresno ...

USDA milk testing shows different strain of H5N1 bird flu in Nevada dairy herds. But alone, they dismiss an outsized advantage we possess over bird flu — one that is greater, arguably, than our ...