News Health & Medicine

What bird flu experts are watching for in 2025

They’re eyeing the cattle outbreak, viral genetic changes and federal actions

A dairy farm worker kneels by a row of cows while preparing to hook up milking machinery.

Dairy farm workers are among the most vulnerable people to H5N1. About two-thirds of the 66 human bird flu cases in the U.S. since early 2024 came from exposure to infected cattle.

ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images

By McKenzie Prillaman

After a year of rising bird flu cases among people in the United States, researchers are keeping a watchful eye on the H5N1 virus to slow further spread.