H5N1 influenza has now been detected in pigs. This was something virologists had been worrying about ever since this highly pathogenic strain of bird flu started its rapid global spread in 2020. But why were we worrying specifically about pigs? And does this case – detected on a farm in Oregon on October 29 – change anything?

Bird flu detected in pigs – here’s why virologists are concerned

U.S. poultry to face new rules at Canadian border
Canada is introducing new rules for U.S. bird and poultry shipments in an effort to curb highly pathogenic avian influenza spread.

US to begin bulk milk testing for bird flu after push from industry
The U.S. Department of Agriculture will soon begin testing bulk raw milk across the country for bird flu, a significant expansion of the agency's efforts to stifle the rapid spread of the virus, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Reuters.

Bird flu spreading fast among EU poultry
Bird flu has been spreading fast among poultry in the European Union this season, raising concerns of a repeat of previous crises that led to the deaths of tens of millions of poultry in the bloc and fears that it could spread to humans.

US confirms two human bird flu cases in Washington state
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday confirmed two of the four presumptive positive bird flu cases among poultry farm workers in Washington state.

State and industry input led US farm agency to relax bird flu testing order for cows
The U.S. Department of Agriculture weakened an emergency order last spring designed to prevent the spread of bird flu among the nation's dairy cattle after pushback from state and industry officials, according to state and federal records seen by Reuters.

Three new cases of bird flu in B.C. poultry
British Columbia has three new cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) among commercial poultry flocks in the Abbotsford and Chilliwack areas.

Bird flu cases presumed in four Washington farm workers, state says
Bird flu is presumed to have infected four poultry workers in Washington state, making it the sixth U.S. state to identify human cases this year, according to the Washington State Department of Health.

Cows dead from bird flu rot in California as heat bakes dairy farms
Cows in California are dying at much higher rates from bird flu than in other affected states, industry and veterinary experts said, and some carcasses have been left rotting in the sun as rendering plants struggle to process all the dead animals.

‘Awful reality’: Australian government spends $95 million to fight deadly bird flu
The Australian government has committed A$95 million (C$87.2 million) to fight a virulent strain of bird flu wreaking havoc globally. With the arrival of millions of migratory birds this spring, there is an increased risk of a deadly strain arriving in Australia, known as highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1.