Source: Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), WHO Regional Office for the Americas, https://reliefweb.int/report/world/epidemiological-alert-human-infections-caused-avian-influenza-ah5n1-americas-region-8-october-2024
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Summary of the situation in the Americas Region
Between 2022 and epidemiological week (EW) 39 of 2024, a total of 19 countries and territories in the Americas Region reported 5,472 outbreaks of avian influenza in domestic and wild birds to WOAH: Argentina, the Plurinational State of Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, , Honduras, the Falkland Islands, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the United States of America, Guatemala, Uruguay, and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Table 1) (4).
During this period, 693 outbreaks of HPAI A(H5N1) have been reported in mammals in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Peru, the United States, and Uruguay (Table 2) (4).
Between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, eight countries and territories in the Americas Region have identified 373 avian influenza outbreaks in birds and 289 outbreaks in mammals (Table 3) (Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, Figure 4, and Figure 5) (4).
Between 2022 and EW 39 of 2024, 19 human infections caused by avian influenza A(H5) have been reported in the Americas. Of these, 17 were reported in the United States (6); one in Ecuador, reported on 9 January 2023 (7); and one in Chile, reported on 29 March 2023 (8).
During 2024, 16 human cases were reported, of which 15 have been reported in the last five months.
The following is a summary of the situation in countries and territories in the Americas Region in alphabetical order, that reported outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5N1) in birds and mammals during 2024, and the information on human cases reported in 2024.
In Argentina, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, an outbreak of H5 avian influenza was reported to WOAH. The outbreak was identified in the province of Chubut in January affecting a South American sea lion; no new outbreaks have been reported since then. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).
In Brazil, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, 16 outbreaks of avian influenza A(H5) have been confirmed in wild birds in the states of Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo. The last reported outbreak was in May 2024. To date, no outbreaks in production birds or human cases of infection with avian influenza (H5N1) have been detected (4).
In Canada, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, multiple HPAI A(H5N1) outbreaks in poultry and wild birds have been reported to WOAH in nine Canadian provinces. The provinces of Alberta, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec have reported ten outbreaks in wild mammals. The last identified outbreak was reported in July 2024. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).
In Ecuador, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, an outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in backyard poultry was reported to WOAH. The outbreak was identified in Pastaza province in February; no new outbreaks have been reported since. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).
In the Falkland Islands, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, WOAH was notified of eight outbreaks of avian influenza in birds, all related to wild birds (4). The last outbreak was reported in September 2024. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (9).
In Mexico, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, 15 outbreaks of avian influenza in wild and domestic birds were reported to WOAH. The outbreaks occurred in the states of Chihuahua, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacán, Oaxaca, Puebla and San Luis Potosí. The last outbreak was reported in July 2024. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).
In Peru, between EW 1 and EW 39 of 2024, 57 outbreaks of HPAI A(H5) were reported to WOAH, mostly in backyard domestic poultry in the departments of Ancash, Arequipa, Cajamarca, Cusco, Ica, Junín, La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima, and Moquegua. The last outbreak was reported in September 2024. No human cases of avian influenza (H5N1) infection have been reported in the outbreaks identified to date (4).
In the United States of America, detections of HPAI A(H5) virus in wild birds, commercial poultry, and/or backyard poultry have been reported to WOAH since early 2024 in 26 states2 in the country (4). Outbreaks in wild mammals have also been reported in a variety of species, including bobcats, raccoons, cougars, minks, skunks and foxes in seven states (California, Kentucky, Missouri, Montana, New York, Vermont and Washington) (4). The first detection of influenza A(H5N1) in goats was reported in Minnesota on March 18. On 25 March 2024, the first detection of influenza A(H5N1) was reported in dairy cattle and in samples of unpasteurized milk obtained from dairy cattle in the states of Texas and Kansas (3). Since then, detections of A(H5N1) have been reported in 254 herds of dairy cattle across 14 states, as of 4 October; 82% of the herds were in Colorado (n=64), California (n=56), Idaho (n=33), Michigan (n=29), and Texas (n=26) (10). In the last 30 days, 82 affected herds were reported in the states of California (n=79) and Idaho (n=3) (11). Fatalities have also been observed among wild cats and birds within some affected farms (12).
During 2024, as of 4 October, 16 human cases of influenza A(H5N1) were confirmed in the United States, nine of which followed exposure to poultry (6). Of the 16 reported cases, 15 have been reported in the past 5 months. The 16 human cases were reported in California (n=2), Colorado (n=10), Michigan (n=2), Missouri (n=1), and Texas (n=1) (6). On 1 April 2024, the United States reported the first human case of influenza A(H5N1) in a farm worker, being related to an event in dairy cattle in the State of Texas (13). This case represents the first instance of probable transmission of the avian influenza A(H5N1) virus from mammals to humans. Since then, and as of 4 October 2024, six human cases of influenza A(H5N1) involving cattle have been reported in the states of California (n=2), Colorado (n=1), Michigan (n=2), and Texas (n=1) (14, 15).
On 6 September 2024, the United States reported the first confirmed case of influenza A(H5N1) in which there is no known recent exposure to animals. The case was identified through the Missouri state seasonal influenza surveillance system (16). As of 27 September, five health care professionals who were exposed to the case and had presented mild symptoms were detected. As the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique would not be reliable in identifying these exposures, blood samples were collected for serology. As of 4 October, the results of the serological tests performed following the Missouri case are pending (17).
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References
1. World Health Organization. Press release: Los brotes actuales de gripe aviar en animales suponen un riesgo para los seres humanos Análisis de situación y asesoramiento a los países por parte de la FAO, la OMS y la OMSA. 12 July 2023. Geneva: WHO; 2023. Available in Spanish from: https://www.who.int/es/news/item/12-07-2023-ongoing-avianinfluenza-outbreaks-in-animals-pose-risk-to-humans.
2. A. M. P. Byrne, J. James, B. C. Mollett, S. M. Meyer, T. Lewis, M. Czepiel, et al. Investigating the Genetic Diversity of H5 Avian Influenza Viruses in the United Kingdom from 2020-2022. Microbiol Spectr 11, e0477622 http://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04776-22. (2023). Available from:
3. World Health Organization. Disease outbreak news: Avian influenza A(H5N1) – United States of America. 9 April 2024. Geneva: WHO; 2024. Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2024-DON512.
4. World Organization for Animal Health. World Animal Health Information System. Animal health data: Avian influenza. Paris: WOAH; 2024 [cited 3 October 2024]. Available from: https://wahis.woah.org/#/event-management
5. World Health Organization. Cumulative number of confirmed human cases for avian influenza A(H5N1) reported to WHO, 2003-2024, 19 July 2024. Geneva: WHO; Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/cumulative-number-of-confirmedhuman-cases-for-avian-influenza-a(h5n1)-reported-to-who-2003-2024.
6. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How CDC is monitoring influenza data among people to better understand the current avian influenza A (H5N1) situation. Atlanta: CDC; 2024 [cited 2024 Oct 4]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/h5monitoring/index.html.
7. Ministerio de Salud Pública de Ecuador. Entidades sanitarias mantienen activa vigilancia ante caso de gripe aviar. 10 de enero del 2022. Quito: MSP; 2022. Available in Spanish from: https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=555571356609961&set=a.253584503475316
8. Ministerio de Salud de Chile. MINSAL informa primer caso humano de gripe aviar en Chile. 29 de marzo del 2023. Santiago: MINSAL; 2023. Available in Spanish from: https://www.minsal.cl/minsal-informa-primer-caso-humano-de-gripe-aviar-en-chile/.
9. Falkland Islands Department of Agriculture. Avian Influenza Information. Stanley: IFAD; 2024 [cited 3 October 2024]. Available from: https://falklands.gov.fk/agriculture/avianinfluenza.
10. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Current H5N1 Bird Flu Situation in Dairy Cows. Atlanta: CDC; 2024 [cited 4 October 2024]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/mammals.html.
11. United States Department of Agriculture. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services. HPAI Confirmed Cases in Livestock. Riverdale: USDA; 2024 [cited 4 October 2024]. Available from: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avianinfluenza/hpai-detections/hpai-confirmed-cases-livestock.
12. Burrough ER, Magstadt DR, Petersen B, Timmermans SJ, Gauger PC, Zhang J, et al. Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4.4b virus infection in domestic dairy cattle and cats, United States, 2024. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 30(7), 1335-1343. 2024. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3007.240508.
13. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus Infection Reported in a Person in the U.S. Atlanta: CDC; 1 April 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0401-avian-flu.html.
14. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC reports fourth human case of H5 Bird Flu Tied to Dairy Cow Outbreak. Atlanta: CDC; 3 July 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p-0703-4th-human-case-h5.html.
15. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Confirms New Human Cases of H5 Bird Flu in California. Atlanta: CDC; 4 October 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s1003-birdflu-case-california.html. Missouri.
16. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC Confirms Human Case of H5 Bird Flu in Atlanta: CDC; 6 Septembe 2024. Available https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s0906-birdflu-case-missouri.html. from:
17. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update September 27, 2024. Atlanta: CDC; 27 September 2024. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/spotlights/h5n1-response-09272024.html.
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