CDC declares bird flu emergency response over as cases decline
- The CDC's emergency response to H5N1 bird flu was deactivated on July 2, 2025, due to a decline in infections and no human cases since February.
- The response had been active since April 2024 and was initiated to address the growing threat of the H5N1 virus affecting birds and mammals worldwide.
- Experts warn that while the public health risk is currently low, continued monitoring is essential as cases may rise again in the fall.
In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially ended its emergency response to the H5N1 bird flu on July 2, 2025. This decision was based on a significant decline in reported animal infections and the absence of human cases since February 2025. The emergency response, which had been in effect since April 4, 2024, was initiated to bolster public health efforts during outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1). Since its introduction, the flu had led to severe consequences for poultry and livestock, affecting over 175 million birds nationally since 2022, and also spreading to several mammal species globally. Despite the closure of the emergency response, the CDC emphasized the continued surveillance and monitoring of human cases. Although 70 human cases have been reported in the U.S., with one resulting in death, health officials stated the current public health risk is low. Experts suggest that due to migratory bird patterns, there might be a surge in infections as winter approaches, indicating that the readiness to react should cases rise again. The CDC's reassessment came amidst changes within federal health agencies that could obscure some milder cases, but overall, significant outbreaks among humans remain unlikely. Health officials assured the public that activities related to bird flu monitoring will be integrated into regular influenza updates, and that they retain the capability to respond quickly if the need arises.