Figure 1.

Is H5N1 the next pandemic? Since 2003, A(H5N1) has accounted for 893 global human cases with 463 deaths in 24 countries, including 11 cases in 2024. Antarctica has seen the first-ever cases of A(H5N1) virus in animals. In 2024, a man in Texas, two in Michigan, and one in Colorado, contracted H5N1 after contact with dairy cattle. H5N1 has been detected in several states across United States in wastewater, and there have been 145 cowherd outbreaks in 12 states across the United States (as of 8 July 2024), as shown. Cats contracted H5N1 from infected cow’s milk, and hunting dogs have also been found to be positive after retrieving wild waterfowl. The virus’s ability to infect pets is concerning, as wild birds transmit it to poultry and cattle. Other animals, as shown in the inset, have also been detected with A(H5N1) virus infection, but their role in transmission remains unclear. Solid lines depict confirmed transmission routes, while dotted lines depict uncertain transmission pathways.

Source: The bio-render (https://www.biorender.com/) was used for developing this figure.