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Deadly H5 Avian Flu Outbreaks Threaten Biodiversity Worldwide

5/23/2025

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Summary

Avian Flu Outbreaks

The Gs/Gd lineage of H5 avian influenza, first identified in China, has wreaked havoc since 1997, leading to alarming deaths among wild birds and mammals worldwide. Recent outbreaks in seals and dairy cattle in the USA heighten fears for biodiversity and public health, as the virus adapts and spreads with migratory birds.

Summary

CDC Identifies Variants

The CDC's airport screening has identified the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1 in travelers from multiple U.S. states, coinciding with a rise in cases in China. In a concerning development, the UK has reported West Nile virus in mosquitoes for the first time, underscoring the growing threat of vector-borne diseases amid climate change. However, public health risks are currently deemed low.

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Avian Flu Outbreaks

The Gs/Gd lineage of H5 avian influenza, first identified in China, has wreaked havoc since 1997, leading to alarming deaths among wild birds and mammals worldwide. Recent outbreaks in seals and dairy cattle in the USA heighten fears for biodiversity and public health, as the virus adapts and spreads with migratory birds.

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