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On January 31st, The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced that two backyard poultry flocks in Nebraska tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a strain of bird flu that can be deadly to poultry. One flock is in Kearney and one in Nance County. Although this is the first infected flock detected in 2025, HPAI was first detected in Nebraska in 2022. In 2024 cases were detected in flocks in Dodge, Sarpy, Lancaster, Gage, Johnson, and Nemaha Counties. The risk to humans remains low.
WHAT WE KNOW
Highly pathogenic bird flu is transmitted to backyard and commercial poultry by exposure to infected wild birds or their feces, or infection by other infected poultry.
Backyard flock owners should take precautions to minimize exposure of their birds to bird flu, and use personal protective gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when cleaning coops or collecting eggs. Raw egg that is not pasteurized could carry bird flu. Cooking the egg so it is not runny and washing hands well after collecting or handling unpasteurized flocks can help reduce risk. More information can be found here.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a more severe form of bird flu that is often fatal for birds. A lower pathogenic form of the virus (LPAI) causes mild or unnoticeable symptoms in birds. The difference between the two types is the virus's ability to produce disease. HPAI was the type detected in cattle.
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On January 31st, The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced that two backyard poultry flocks in Nebraska tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a strain of bird flu that can be deadly to poultry. One flock is in Kearney and one in Nance County. Although this is the first infected flock detected in 2025, HPAI was first detected in Nebraska in 2022. In 2024 cases were detected in flocks in Dodge, Sarpy, Lancaster, Gage, Johnson, and Nemaha Counties. The risk to humans remains low.
WHAT WE KNOW
Highly pathogenic bird flu is transmitted to backyard and commercial poultry by exposure to infected wild birds or their feces, or infection by other infected poultry.
Backyard flock owners should take precautions to minimize exposure of their birds to bird flu, and use personal protective gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when cleaning coops or collecting eggs. Raw egg that is not pasteurized could carry bird flu. Cooking the egg so it is not runny and washing hands well after collecting or handling unpasteurized flocks can help reduce risk. More information can be found here.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a more severe form of bird flu that is often fatal for birds. A lower pathogenic form of the virus (LPAI) causes mild or unnoticeable symptoms in birds. The difference between the two types is the virus's ability to produce disease. HPAI was the type detected in cattle.
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Part of a report on bird flu briefly appeared on a CDC web page before being taken down. From the information that appeared it is not clear whether cats got bird flu from people or vice versa. We need more information on the study and its results to draw any conclusions. We do know that cats are especially susceptible to bird flu, and cat owners can protect their cats by keeping them indoors and avoiding raw pet food products.
WHAT WE KNOW
Cats are very susceptible to bird flu, and the virus is often deadly for cats. Dogs can also get the virus, but they appear to be more resilient to it.
Most cats get bird flu from contaminated raw pet food or unpasteurized milk. It is also possible for outdoor cats to get sick from contact with wild birds. Cat owners should keep their cats indoors, and avoid raw pet food products.
High heat is necessary to kill the virus. Freeze dried or frozen raw cat food is not safe for cats because it is not heated and could still have the live virus. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against feeding cats raw food.
In 2016, a veterinarian in New York City got sick with bird flu from a cat. This was the last reported case of a person getting bird flu after being exposed to several sick cats.
More information on how to protect your pets from bird flu can be found on the American Veterinary Association's website.
UNKNOWNS
We are still waiting for the release of the full report to help determine how likely it is for people to get bird flu from cats or vice versa.
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Part of a report on bird flu briefly appeared on a CDC web page before being taken down. From the information that appeared it is not clear whether cats got bird flu from people or vice versa. We need more information on the study and its results to draw any conclusions. We do know that cats are especially susceptible to bird flu, and cat owners can protect their cats by keeping them indoors and avoiding raw pet food products.
WHAT WE KNOW
Cats are very susceptible to bird flu, and the virus is often deadly for cats. Dogs can also get the virus, but they appear to be more resilient to it.
Most cats get bird flu from contaminated raw pet food or unpasteurized milk. It is also possible for outdoor cats to get sick from contact with wild birds. Cat owners should keep their cats indoors, and avoid raw pet food products.
High heat is necessary to kill the virus. Freeze dried or frozen raw cat food is not safe for cats because it is not heated and could still have the live virus. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against feeding cats raw food.
In 2016, a veterinarian in New York City got sick with bird flu from a cat. This was the last reported case of a person getting bird flu after being exposed to several sick cats.
More information on how to protect your pets from bird flu can be found on the American Veterinary Association's website.
UNKNOWNS
We are still waiting for the release of the full report to help determine how likely it is for people to get bird flu from cats or vice versa.
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Each spring, public health experts make predictions about what the most common flu virus variants will be for the upcoming fall flu season. Vaccines are then produced to protect against those variants. When this prediction is accurate, the flu vaccine is more effective. But the flu virus can change over time, so some predictions are less accurate. Some believe that happened this year. Still, even a mismatched vaccine will lower a person’s chances of severe flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Variants included in the 2024/2025 flu vaccine are influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B/Victoria virus.
We won’t know the true effectiveness of the flu vaccine this year until after the flu season is over, but based on data from the Southern Hemisphere it is likely around 35% effective, which is lower than last year’s 42% but still close to the typical range of 40% to 60% effectiveness.
There are several factors that determine how many people get sick with the flu each year including which strain of the vaccine is dominant and how many people get vaccinated.
For the first year since the COVID pandemic began, the number of deaths from seasonal influenza is higher than the number of deaths from COVID.
Even if you still get sick after getting the flu vaccine, being vaccinated reduces your risk of being hospitalized or getting severe illness.
Even if you already got sick with the flu this season without being vaccinated, you could still get sick with a different strain than the one you already had. It is not too late to get the flu vaccine to reduce your risk of serious illness.
UNKNOWNS
We will not know the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine in the U.S. until the flu season is over and public health officials are able to examine the data.
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Each spring, public health experts make predictions about what the most common flu virus variants will be for the upcoming fall flu season. Vaccines are then produced to protect against those variants. When this prediction is accurate, the flu vaccine is more effective. But the flu virus can change over time, so some predictions are less accurate. Some believe that happened this year. Still, even a mismatched vaccine will lower a person’s chances of severe flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Variants included in the 2024/2025 flu vaccine are influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B/Victoria virus.
We won’t know the true effectiveness of the flu vaccine this year until after the flu season is over, but based on data from the Southern Hemisphere it is likely around 35% effective, which is lower than last year’s 42% but still close to the typical range of 40% to 60% effectiveness.
There are several factors that determine how many people get sick with the flu each year including which strain of the vaccine is dominant and how many people get vaccinated.
For the first year since the COVID pandemic began, the number of deaths from seasonal influenza is higher than the number of deaths from COVID.
Even if you still get sick after getting the flu vaccine, being vaccinated reduces your risk of being hospitalized or getting severe illness.
Even if you already got sick with the flu this season without being vaccinated, you could still get sick with a different strain than the one you already had. It is not too late to get the flu vaccine to reduce your risk of serious illness.
UNKNOWNS
We will not know the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine in the U.S. until the flu season is over and public health officials are able to examine the data.
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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services shared an update on Friday, 2/14/2025 about tuberculosis (TB) cases in the state. According to the update, there were 41 cases of TB in Nebraska in 2024. This number is still relatively low but represents the highest number of TB cases in one year over the past 20 years. So far, none of the cases in Nebraska have been linked to a different TB outbreak in Kansas.
WHAT WE KNOW
Symptoms of TB include feelings of sickness, weight loss, night sweats, and fever. It spreads from person to person through the air, not by saliva nor germs on hands and surfaces.
It is important to get treatment for active TB infections since the disease can be fatal if left untreated, although this is very rare in the U.S.
Treatment is long and includes taking a combination of medications for 6-12 months for adults and 4-9 months in children. Side effects of these medications can be hard for some people to tolerate, but it is important to complete the entire treatment process to prevent TB from returning or becoming resistant to the medications.
Latent TB means the germs are in someone's body, but they are not experiencing symptoms because the infection is not active. This kind of TB cannot be spread from person to person. People with latent TB are often prescribed medications to help prevent an active infection in the future.
There is not a vaccine for TB in the U.S.; it does exist in other parts of the world but is only partially effective. The best way to prevent the spread of TB is to avoid being around sick people and ensuring people who have TB receive treatment. An N95 or KN95 mask can help prevent inhaling the germs.
UNKNOWNS
Nebraska Department of health continues to monitor the TB outbreak and will provide updates as they become available.
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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services shared an update on Friday, 2/14/2025 about tuberculosis (TB) cases in the state. According to the update, there were 41 cases of TB in Nebraska in 2024. This number is still relatively low but represents the highest number of TB cases in one year over the past 20 years. So far, none of the cases in Nebraska have been linked to a different TB outbreak in Kansas.
WHAT WE KNOW
Symptoms of TB include feelings of sickness, weight loss, night sweats, and fever. It spreads from person to person through the air, not by saliva nor germs on hands and surfaces.
It is important to get treatment for active TB infections since the disease can be fatal if left untreated, although this is very rare in the U.S.
Treatment is long and includes taking a combination of medications for 6-12 months for adults and 4-9 months in children. Side effects of these medications can be hard for some people to tolerate, but it is important to complete the entire treatment process to prevent TB from returning or becoming resistant to the medications.
Latent TB means the germs are in someone's body, but they are not experiencing symptoms because the infection is not active. This kind of TB cannot be spread from person to person. People with latent TB are often prescribed medications to help prevent an active infection in the future.
There is not a vaccine for TB in the U.S.; it does exist in other parts of the world but is only partially effective. The best way to prevent the spread of TB is to avoid being around sick people and ensuring people who have TB receive treatment. An N95 or KN95 mask can help prevent inhaling the germs.
UNKNOWNS
Nebraska Department of health continues to monitor the TB outbreak and will provide updates as they become available.
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The Saint Louis Zoo announced on February 28 that a wild wood duck was retrieved dead from Cove Lake in the center of the Zoo. Some exhibits have been changed or closed until further notice as a precaution. No birds or other animals under the Zoo’s care have shown signs of or have been diagnosed with bird flu. The Zoo stated that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) does not pose any immediate health concerns for humans at the Zoo.
WHAT WE KNOW
Avian influenza (bird flu) Type A viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. These viruses are very contagious among birds, with potential to sicken and kill domesticated bird species such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a category of Avian influenza Type A, which causes severe disease and high mortality in infected poultry.
Preliminary tests indicated the bird was positive for Avian influenza Type A, which is not uncommon for migratory birds. Infected birds can spread bird flu to other animals during migration through contaminated saliva and feces.
Zoo officials are taking steps to protect birds at the zoo including closing exhibits to limit exposure to wild birds and deep cleaning habitats.
Bird flu can affect wildlife, livestock, and pets. Zoo animals can be protected by maintaining clean exhibits and temporarily closing exhibits. Livestock can be protected by enhancing biosecurity and monitoring herds. Pets can be protected by keeping pets away from wild animals and not feeding raw poultry.
UNKNOWNS
We are still learning whether this was a case of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain.
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The Saint Louis Zoo announced on February 28 that a wild wood duck was retrieved dead from Cove Lake in the center of the Zoo. Some exhibits have been changed or closed until further notice as a precaution. No birds or other animals under the Zoo’s care have shown signs of or have been diagnosed with bird flu. The Zoo stated that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) does not pose any immediate health concerns for humans at the Zoo.
WHAT WE KNOW
Avian influenza (bird flu) Type A viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. These viruses are very contagious among birds, with potential to sicken and kill domesticated bird species such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a category of Avian influenza Type A, which causes severe disease and high mortality in infected poultry.
Preliminary tests indicated the bird was positive for Avian influenza Type A, which is not uncommon for migratory birds. Infected birds can spread bird flu to other animals during migration through contaminated saliva and feces.
Zoo officials are taking steps to protect birds at the zoo including closing exhibits to limit exposure to wild birds and deep cleaning habitats.
Bird flu can affect wildlife, livestock, and pets. Zoo animals can be protected by maintaining clean exhibits and temporarily closing exhibits. Livestock can be protected by enhancing biosecurity and monitoring herds. Pets can be protected by keeping pets away from wild animals and not feeding raw poultry.
UNKNOWNS
We are still learning whether this was a case of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain.
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As of March 6, 2025, there are active measles outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico and New Jersey. The largest of these, in Texas, includes 198 measles cases and the first measles death in the U.S. since 2015. The death occurred in an unvaccinated school age child. Most of the U.S. measles cases in 2025 have been among children ages 5-19 years (45% of cases) and children under 5 years (34% of cases). Nearly all measles cases (94%) have occurred in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. In 2025 to date, there have been more than twice as many measles cases in the U.S. as the same date in 2024.
WHAT WE KNOW
Measles is one of the world’s most infectious diseases, and spreads through the air. The virus can remain active on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours. One person infected by measles can infect nine out of ten unvaccinated people they come into contact with.
Measles used to result in 48,000 hospitalizations each year before the vaccine was developed.
In the US, the vaccine is not given to babies under 1 year of age or people with weakened immune systems. This makes these groups especially susceptible to infection if they are exposed to someone with the virus. As a result, they can only rely on herd immunity (having around 95% of the population immunized) to help protect them against measles.
Side effects of the measles vaccine have been well researched. About 10% of children will develop a fever 6-12 days after vaccination, and some experience a small rash. In very rare cases, the fever can induce seizures.
Two doses of the vaccine (MMR vaccine) are 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is 93% effective. Breakthrough infections, especially somewhere where high levels of measles outbreaks are occurring, are possible. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Multiple studies have shown no connection between the measles vaccine and autism. Autism symptoms begin to show in children around the same time a child is receiving vaccines. It makes sense to suspect vaccines as a cause, and research has looked into this for that reason. However, according to these studies, the timing is coincidental.
Parents can have conversations with their doctors to decide if their child should receive the measles vaccine, and choose a timeline that works best for their family.
UNKNOWNS
The CDC and state health departments are actively monitoring measles outbreaks and measles cases. The CDC website is updated every Friday with updated measles information.
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As of March 6, 2025, there are active measles outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico and New Jersey. The largest of these, in Texas, includes 198 measles cases and the first measles death in the U.S. since 2015. The death occurred in an unvaccinated school age child. Most of the U.S. measles cases in 2025 have been among children ages 5-19 years (45% of cases) and children under 5 years (34% of cases). Nearly all measles cases (94%) have occurred in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. In 2025 to date, there have been more than twice as many measles cases in the U.S. as the same date in 2024.
WHAT WE KNOW
Measles is one of the world’s most infectious diseases, and spreads through the air. The virus can remain active on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours. One person infected by measles can infect nine out of ten unvaccinated people they come into contact with.
Measles used to result in 48,000 hospitalizations each year before the vaccine was developed.
In the US, the vaccine is not given to babies under 1 year of age or people with weakened immune systems. This makes these groups especially susceptible to infection if they are exposed to someone with the virus. As a result, they can only rely on herd immunity (having around 95% of the population immunized) to help protect them against measles.
Side effects of the measles vaccine have been well researched. About 10% of children will develop a fever 6-12 days after vaccination, and some experience a small rash. In very rare cases, the fever can induce seizures.
Two doses of the vaccine (MMR vaccine) are 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is 93% effective. Breakthrough infections, especially somewhere where high levels of measles outbreaks are occurring, are possible. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Multiple studies have shown no connection between the measles vaccine and autism. Autism symptoms begin to show in children around the same time a child is receiving vaccines. It makes sense to suspect vaccines as a cause, and research has looked into this for that reason. However, according to these studies, the timing is coincidental.
Parents can have conversations with their doctors to decide if their child should receive the measles vaccine, and choose a timeline that works best for their family.
UNKNOWNS
The CDC and state health departments are actively monitoring measles outbreaks and measles cases. The CDC website is updated every Friday with updated measles information.
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Tri-Union Seafoods announced a voluntary recall of canned tuna products, including the Genova, VanCamps, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s label names. The recall is due to a manufacturing defect in the can that may allow contamination or spoilage of the tuna. The product was sold in Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, and independent retailers. People should check their pantries for the recalled tuna and return or throw it away even if it looks and smells normal.
WHAT WE KNOW
The manufacturing defect affects the pull tab of the tuna can lid and could cause the tuna to be contaminated with the bacteria that produces a toxin called botulinum which causes Botulism.
Botulism is a rare but serious disease that attacks the nervous system and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and possibly death.
The bacteria that make the botulinum toxin are naturally occurring in many places but need very specific conditions to grow and produce botulinum. Botulinum toxin cannot be detected with smell, color, or taste.
Canned foods that are improperly sealed are ideal environments for this bacterium to make the toxin, which is why the tuna cans were recalled and should be returned to the store or thrown away.
UNKNOWNS
No illnesses have been reported with this defect. The company will announce if any additional brands or lots have been affected.
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Tri-Union Seafoods announced a voluntary recall of canned tuna products, including the Genova, VanCamps, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s label names. The recall is due to a manufacturing defect in the can that may allow contamination or spoilage of the tuna. The product was sold in Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, and independent retailers. People should check their pantries for the recalled tuna and return or throw it away even if it looks and smells normal.
WHAT WE KNOW
The manufacturing defect affects the pull tab of the tuna can lid and could cause the tuna to be contaminated with the bacteria that produces a toxin called botulinum which causes Botulism.
Botulism is a rare but serious disease that attacks the nervous system and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and possibly death.
The bacteria that make the botulinum toxin are naturally occurring in many places but need very specific conditions to grow and produce botulinum. Botulinum toxin cannot be detected with smell, color, or taste.
Canned foods that are improperly sealed are ideal environments for this bacterium to make the toxin, which is why the tuna cans were recalled and should be returned to the store or thrown away.
UNKNOWNS
No illnesses have been reported with this defect. The company will announce if any additional brands or lots have been affected.
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On January 31st, The Nebraska Department of Agriculture announced that two backyard poultry flocks in Nebraska tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), a strain of bird flu that can be deadly to poultry. One flock is in Kearney and one in Nance County. Although this is the first infected flock detected in 2025, HPAI was first detected in Nebraska in 2022. In 2024 cases were detected in flocks in Dodge, Sarpy, Lancaster, Gage, Johnson, and Nemaha Counties. The risk to humans remains low.
WHAT WE KNOW
Highly pathogenic bird flu is transmitted to backyard and commercial poultry by exposure to infected wild birds or their feces, or infection by other infected poultry.
Backyard flock owners should take precautions to minimize exposure of their birds to bird flu, and use personal protective gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a mask when cleaning coops or collecting eggs. Raw egg that is not pasteurized could carry bird flu. Cooking the egg so it is not runny and washing hands well after collecting or handling unpasteurized flocks can help reduce risk. More information can be found here.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a more severe form of bird flu that is often fatal for birds. A lower pathogenic form of the virus (LPAI) causes mild or unnoticeable symptoms in birds. The difference between the two types is the virus's ability to produce disease. HPAI was the type detected in cattle.
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Part of a report on bird flu briefly appeared on a CDC web page before being taken down. From the information that appeared it is not clear whether cats got bird flu from people or vice versa. We need more information on the study and its results to draw any conclusions. We do know that cats are especially susceptible to bird flu, and cat owners can protect their cats by keeping them indoors and avoiding raw pet food products.
WHAT WE KNOW
Cats are very susceptible to bird flu, and the virus is often deadly for cats. Dogs can also get the virus, but they appear to be more resilient to it.
Most cats get bird flu from contaminated raw pet food or unpasteurized milk. It is also possible for outdoor cats to get sick from contact with wild birds. Cat owners should keep their cats indoors, and avoid raw pet food products.
High heat is necessary to kill the virus. Freeze dried or frozen raw cat food is not safe for cats because it is not heated and could still have the live virus. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises against feeding cats raw food.
In 2016, a veterinarian in New York City got sick with bird flu from a cat. This was the last reported case of a person getting bird flu after being exposed to several sick cats.
More information on how to protect your pets from bird flu can be found on the American Veterinary Association's website.
UNKNOWNS
We are still waiting for the release of the full report to help determine how likely it is for people to get bird flu from cats or vice versa.
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Each spring, public health experts make predictions about what the most common flu virus variants will be for the upcoming fall flu season. Vaccines are then produced to protect against those variants. When this prediction is accurate, the flu vaccine is more effective. But the flu virus can change over time, so some predictions are less accurate. Some believe that happened this year. Still, even a mismatched vaccine will lower a person’s chances of severe flu.
WHAT WE KNOW
Variants included in the 2024/2025 flu vaccine are influenza A(H1N1) virus, an influenza A(H3N2) virus, and an influenza B/Victoria virus.
We won’t know the true effectiveness of the flu vaccine this year until after the flu season is over, but based on data from the Southern Hemisphere it is likely around 35% effective, which is lower than last year’s 42% but still close to the typical range of 40% to 60% effectiveness.
There are several factors that determine how many people get sick with the flu each year including which strain of the vaccine is dominant and how many people get vaccinated.
For the first year since the COVID pandemic began, the number of deaths from seasonal influenza is higher than the number of deaths from COVID.
Even if you still get sick after getting the flu vaccine, being vaccinated reduces your risk of being hospitalized or getting severe illness.
Even if you already got sick with the flu this season without being vaccinated, you could still get sick with a different strain than the one you already had. It is not too late to get the flu vaccine to reduce your risk of serious illness.
UNKNOWNS
We will not know the effectiveness of this year’s flu vaccine in the U.S. until the flu season is over and public health officials are able to examine the data.
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The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services shared an update on Friday, 2/14/2025 about tuberculosis (TB) cases in the state. According to the update, there were 41 cases of TB in Nebraska in 2024. This number is still relatively low but represents the highest number of TB cases in one year over the past 20 years. So far, none of the cases in Nebraska have been linked to a different TB outbreak in Kansas.
WHAT WE KNOW
Symptoms of TB include feelings of sickness, weight loss, night sweats, and fever. It spreads from person to person through the air, not by saliva nor germs on hands and surfaces.
It is important to get treatment for active TB infections since the disease can be fatal if left untreated, although this is very rare in the U.S.
Treatment is long and includes taking a combination of medications for 6-12 months for adults and 4-9 months in children. Side effects of these medications can be hard for some people to tolerate, but it is important to complete the entire treatment process to prevent TB from returning or becoming resistant to the medications.
Latent TB means the germs are in someone's body, but they are not experiencing symptoms because the infection is not active. This kind of TB cannot be spread from person to person. People with latent TB are often prescribed medications to help prevent an active infection in the future.
There is not a vaccine for TB in the U.S.; it does exist in other parts of the world but is only partially effective. The best way to prevent the spread of TB is to avoid being around sick people and ensuring people who have TB receive treatment. An N95 or KN95 mask can help prevent inhaling the germs.
UNKNOWNS
Nebraska Department of health continues to monitor the TB outbreak and will provide updates as they become available.
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The Saint Louis Zoo announced on February 28 that a wild wood duck was retrieved dead from Cove Lake in the center of the Zoo. Some exhibits have been changed or closed until further notice as a precaution. No birds or other animals under the Zoo’s care have shown signs of or have been diagnosed with bird flu. The Zoo stated that highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) does not pose any immediate health concerns for humans at the Zoo.
WHAT WE KNOW
Avian influenza (bird flu) Type A viruses occur naturally among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. These viruses are very contagious among birds, with potential to sicken and kill domesticated bird species such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is a category of Avian influenza Type A, which causes severe disease and high mortality in infected poultry.
Preliminary tests indicated the bird was positive for Avian influenza Type A, which is not uncommon for migratory birds. Infected birds can spread bird flu to other animals during migration through contaminated saliva and feces.
Zoo officials are taking steps to protect birds at the zoo including closing exhibits to limit exposure to wild birds and deep cleaning habitats.
Bird flu can affect wildlife, livestock, and pets. Zoo animals can be protected by maintaining clean exhibits and temporarily closing exhibits. Livestock can be protected by enhancing biosecurity and monitoring herds. Pets can be protected by keeping pets away from wild animals and not feeding raw poultry.
UNKNOWNS
We are still learning whether this was a case of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain.
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As of March 6, 2025, there are active measles outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico and New Jersey. The largest of these, in Texas, includes 198 measles cases and the first measles death in the U.S. since 2015. The death occurred in an unvaccinated school age child. Most of the U.S. measles cases in 2025 have been among children ages 5-19 years (45% of cases) and children under 5 years (34% of cases). Nearly all measles cases (94%) have occurred in people who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. In 2025 to date, there have been more than twice as many measles cases in the U.S. as the same date in 2024.
WHAT WE KNOW
Measles is one of the world’s most infectious diseases, and spreads through the air. The virus can remain active on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours. One person infected by measles can infect nine out of ten unvaccinated people they come into contact with.
Measles used to result in 48,000 hospitalizations each year before the vaccine was developed.
In the US, the vaccine is not given to babies under 1 year of age or people with weakened immune systems. This makes these groups especially susceptible to infection if they are exposed to someone with the virus. As a result, they can only rely on herd immunity (having around 95% of the population immunized) to help protect them against measles.
Side effects of the measles vaccine have been well researched. About 10% of children will develop a fever 6-12 days after vaccination, and some experience a small rash. In very rare cases, the fever can induce seizures.
Two doses of the vaccine (MMR vaccine) are 97% effective at preventing measles, and one dose is 93% effective. Breakthrough infections, especially somewhere where high levels of measles outbreaks are occurring, are possible. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Multiple studies have shown no connection between the measles vaccine and autism. Autism symptoms begin to show in children around the same time a child is receiving vaccines. It makes sense to suspect vaccines as a cause, and research has looked into this for that reason. However, according to these studies, the timing is coincidental.
Parents can have conversations with their doctors to decide if their child should receive the measles vaccine, and choose a timeline that works best for their family.
UNKNOWNS
The CDC and state health departments are actively monitoring measles outbreaks and measles cases. The CDC website is updated every Friday with updated measles information.
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Tri-Union Seafoods announced a voluntary recall of canned tuna products, including the Genova, VanCamps, H-E-B and Trader Joe’s label names. The recall is due to a manufacturing defect in the can that may allow contamination or spoilage of the tuna. The product was sold in Trader Joe’s, Costco, Walmart, and independent retailers. People should check their pantries for the recalled tuna and return or throw it away even if it looks and smells normal.
WHAT WE KNOW
The manufacturing defect affects the pull tab of the tuna can lid and could cause the tuna to be contaminated with the bacteria that produces a toxin called botulinum which causes Botulism.
Botulism is a rare but serious disease that attacks the nervous system and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and possibly death.
The bacteria that make the botulinum toxin are naturally occurring in many places but need very specific conditions to grow and produce botulinum. Botulinum toxin cannot be detected with smell, color, or taste.
Canned foods that are improperly sealed are ideal environments for this bacterium to make the toxin, which is why the tuna cans were recalled and should be returned to the store or thrown away.
UNKNOWNS
No illnesses have been reported with this defect. The company will announce if any additional brands or lots have been affected.
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