Key points
- H5N1 is widespread in animals — now detected on all seven continents — but human cases are rare and almost always follow close contact with animals.
- Since 2003 there have been 1,003 laboratory-confirmed human H5N1 cases and 479 deaths in 25 countries to 6 September 2026; 10 cases and 2 deaths in 2026.
- The joint FAO/WHO/WOAH assessment of 18 May 2026 rates the global public-health risk as LOW for the general public, low-to-moderate for occupationally exposed people.
- There is no sustained human-to-human transmission. H5N1 is not a human pandemic.
Direct answer: Bird flu (H5N1) is a serious animal outbreak that has now reached all seven continents, but the risk to people is low: human cases are rare, almost always follow close contact with infected animals, and there is no sustained human-to-human transmission. The joint FAO/WHO/WOAH assessment of 18 May 2026 rates the global public-health risk as low for the general public. H5N1 is not a human pandemic.
A huge animal outbreak, rare human cases
The distinction that matters most about H5N1 is between animals and people. In animals, highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) is now extraordinarily widespread: it has been detected on all seven continents, including the first detection in Australia in June 2026 and on Macquarie Island in October 2026, and it infects wild birds, poultry and a growing list of mammals. In people, the picture is very different. From 2003 to 6 September 2026 there were 1,003 laboratory-confirmed human H5N1 cases and 479 deaths in 25 countries — 10 of those cases and 2 deaths in 2026. Cambodia was the 2026 hotspot, with 6 human cases and 1 death. In the United States, the CDC counted 72 human H5 cases since February 2024 as of 15 October 2026.
What the risk assessment says
The joint assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization, WHO and the World Organisation for Animal Health, published 18 May 2026 with data to 1 March 2026, is the authoritative statement of risk. It rates the global public-health risk as low for the general public, and low-to-moderate for people occupationally exposed to infected animals — poultry and dairy workers, for example. It found no sustained human-to-human transmission. The high case-fatality figure sometimes quoted — 479 deaths out of 1,003 reported cases, about 48% — describes only laboratory-confirmed cases, which are the severe ones that reach testing; it is not the risk to an average person, which is what the “low” rating measures.
Why it is watched so closely
If the risk is low, the attention is still justified, and this page says why plainly: influenza viruses change, and a virus that spreads easily between birds and mammals is watched for any change in how it behaves in people. That is the reason for the joint assessments, the animal surveillance, and the case reporting — not because a human pandemic is happening. The correct frame is vigilance without alarm: a low current risk, a real animal epidemic, and a monitoring system designed to catch change early.
What to do
The precautions are simple and animal-focused: avoid contact with sick or dead birds and poultry and their droppings; do not handle wild birds; wash hands after animal contact; and report sick or dead birds to local animal-health authorities. People who work with poultry or dairy animals should follow their employer’s and local authority’s guidance. This page gives awareness information only and does not advise any individual.
Frequently asked questions
Is bird flu a pandemic?
No. H5N1 is a major animal outbreak with rare, sporadic human cases. There is no sustained human-to-human transmission, and the joint FAO/WHO/WOAH assessment rates the risk to the general public as low.
How many people have caught H5N1?
1,003 laboratory-confirmed human cases and 479 deaths in 25 countries since 2003, to 6 September 2026 — 10 cases and 2 deaths in 2026.
What should I do if I find a sick or dead bird?
Do not touch it. Avoid contact with sick or dead birds and their droppings, wash hands after any animal contact, and report sick or dead birds to local animal-health authorities.