Recent outbreaks of avian flu in the United States are raising concerns among health officials. The first known case of a human being infected with the H5N1 virus via a mammal was reported in April 2024. Since then, and as of December 11, 2025, a total of 71 human cases have been reported nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most involving people who work closely with animals.
While scientists stress that the risk to public health is low, this development highlights the potential threat posed by this highly contagious infection. So, how concerned should we be?
Click through and find out more about why this latest case of bird flu is especially alarming.