On Feb. 14, 2022, The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspective Service (APHIS) announced multiple detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in U.S. commercial poultry and backyard flocks in Minnesota.

A highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses had been previously detected in U.S. wild birds and commercial and domestic poultry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Wild birds can carry HPAI A(H5) viruses without showing symptoms, but these viruses can cause illness and death in domestic poultry. Human infections with HPAI A(H5) bird flu viruses are rare but can occur, usually after close contact with infected birds.

No human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses have been detected to date in the United States. (There have been four human infections with low pathogenic avian influenza A viruses identified in the United States since 2002.

CDC is working closely with USDA to monitor the current HPAI A(H5) virus situation and review existing guidance to determine if updates are needed. CDC will continue its ongoing assessment of the risk posed by these viruses, including conducting laboratory experiments to further characterize the virus.