USDA Reports 140 Domestic Cats, 5 Arizona Dairy Herds Infected with H5N1; Virus Detected in UK Poultry and Sheep

5 posts • GPT (4.1 mini)

Updated Jul 2, 2025, 04:01 PM

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to report widespread detections of the H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus across multiple animal species and states as of mid-2025. Domestic cats infected with H5N1 have reached a total of 140 cases, with the latest sample collected in December 2024 in Contra Costa, California. Recent mammalian cases include an H5N1-infected desert cottontail rabbit in Maricopa County, Arizona, a red fox in Costilla County, Colorado, a muskrat and red fox in New York, and additional detections in rats and squirrels in Maricopa, Arizona. Wild bird infections remain prevalent, with numerous positive cases reported in states including Arizona, Maryland, Wyoming, New York, Iowa, Minnesota, Texas, Arkansas, Wisconsin, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, and California.

Notably, 26 H5 wild birds, including pigeons, were found in Maricopa, Arizona. The USDA also confirmed new H5N1 infections in commercial poultry premises in North Yorkshire and Wrexham, UK, and reported the detection of the virus in a sheep in Great Britain. The US Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has extended its H5N1 Influenza A dairy cow testing program until September 30, 2025, with Arizona reporting five infected dairy cattle herds, including the state's fifth and the country's 1,074th overall. Additionally, three more US states—Virginia, Kansas, and Maine—have provisionally joined the list of those affected by H5N1 in bulk dairy milk testing. Agriculture Secretary Rollins provided an update on the US bird flu strategy on June 26, 2025. Research is ongoing to assess the neutralizing activity of human plasma against bovine H5N1 following seasonal influenza vaccination, though further study is required to determine real-life effectiveness. The USDA's ongoing reports highlight a persistent and expanding presence of H5N1 across diverse animal populations in the US and internationally.

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Sources

flutrackers.com(28)cidrap.umn.edu(2)aphis.usda.gov

FluTrackers.com

@FluTrackers

US - USDA reports a H5/ #H5N1 in a rat and squirrel in Maricopa, Arizona. Why is this important? B/c these are food sources for predator species like domestic cats, hawks, eagles.... h/t Pathfinder

FluTrackers.com

@FluTrackers

Following will be a series of posts about H5/#H5N1 in animals via the USDA. A reminder - we are in a global H5N1 animaldemic. Be aware.

FluTrackers.com

@FluTrackers

Emerg Microbes Infect . Neutralizing activity against bovine H5N1 HPAIV (clade 2.3.4.4b) in human plasma after seasonal influenza vaccination - will it work in real life infections? More study needed. h/t tetano