California’s public health department reported a possible case of bird flu in a child with mild respiratory symptoms on Tuesday, but said there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus and that the child’s family members tested negative. California officials said they have sent test specimens from the child to the U.S. Centers … Read more
Sydney — Bird flu continues to spread in the Australian state of Victoria, where more than 500,000 chickens have been euthanized. Strict quarantine zones restricting the movement of birds and equipment have also been put in place. Australian health authorities say bird flu spreads mainly among wild water birds. The highly pathogenic H7N3 strain of … Read more
Dear Dr. John, I write to ask about the bird flu that seems to be making headlines regarding the danger and death to birds, but also to other species especially marine mammals. I cannot help but wonder if there is any possibility that my family or my dogs might be at risk. Why can a … Read more
Egg prices are at near-historic highs in many parts of the world as the spring holidays approach, reflecting a market scrambled by disease, high demand and growing costs for farmers. It’s the second year in a row consumers have faced sticker shock ahead of Easter and Passover, both occasions in which eggs play prominent roles. … Read more
PORTLAND, Maine — Avian influenza is killing tens of thousands of seals and sea lions in different corners of the world, disrupting ecosystems and flummoxing scientists who don’t see a clear way to slow the devastating virus. The worldwide bird flu outbreak that began in 2020 has led to the deaths of millions of domesticated … Read more
PETALUMA, Calif. — Last month, Mike Weber got the news every poultry farmer fears: His chickens tested positive for avian flu. Following government rules, Weber’s company, Sunrise Farms, had to slaughter its entire flock of egg-laying hens — 550,000 birds — to prevent the disease from infecting other farms in Sonoma County north of San … Read more
The highly contagious bird flu has been found in the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, a UK overseas territory accessible only by ship. It has been found in fur and elephant seal populations for the first time in the region. The strain was first detected in brown skua birds on Bird Island in South Georgia … Read more
A polar bear in one of the northernmost communities in Alaska has died after contracting bird flu, per local media reports. The case is being described as the first such polar bear death caused by the H5N1 virus, according to the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. The bear was found near Utqiagvik in October of … Read more
