The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially deactivated its emergency response to the H5N1 bird flu, citing a decline in animal infections and the absence of human cases since February 2024. The agency’s emergency declaration, which had been active since April 4, 2024, was lifted in accordance with updated public health assessments. However, experts caution that the situation may not be entirely resolved, as the seasonality of migratory bird movements could lead to a resurgence in fall infections.
According to the CDC, the decision to end the emergency response was based on a combination of factors, including the observed reduction in H5N1 cases among animals and the lack of recent human infections. The agency has announced that its bird flu updates will now be integrated with standard influenza surveillance, reducing the frequency of special reports. The shift in reporting practices will also see monthly updates on human monitoring and testing for bird flu, rather than daily or weekly tracking, as previously implemented.