The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →In early 2025, H5N1 was being detected in poultry, dairy cattle, and other animals across multiple U.S. states. As of February 24, three people had become ill in 2025 after exposure to infected poultry or cattle; CDC said it had not identified person-to-person spread in the United States and assessed immediate risk to the general public as low.
For pet owners, FDA warned that uncooked or unpasteurized animal-derived foods could pose an H5N1 risk, particularly for cats. Keep pets away from sick or dead animals, and consider the risk before feeding uncooked meat or uncooked pet food.
Where was HPAI spreading in the U.S.?
CDC described H5N1 as an ongoing multistate outbreak affecting dairy cows, poultry, and other animals. The figures below are cumulative snapshots with different start dates; they should not be read as counts of new detections in early 2025 alone.
| Measure | Reported figure | Period covered and source |
|---|---|---|
| Affected dairy herds | 989 herds in 17 states | Since March 2024; USDA figures reported by CDC on March 19, 2025 |
| Commercial flocks | 336 flocks | Since April 2024; USDA figures reported by CDC on March 19, 2025 |
| Backyard flocks | 207 flocks | Since April 2024; USDA figures reported by CDC on March 19, 2025 |
| Birds affected | More than 90.9 million | Since April 2024; USDA figures reported by CDC on March 19, 2025 |
These cumulative counts show the scale of the animal outbreak, not how many new cases occurred in a particular week or month. An affected-herd or flock count is also not a human-case count.
#1 Best Overall
- Real-Time Trends:Monitor heart rate and respiratory rate trends through the Clvior app. Calm and low-motion periods provide the most useful conditions for comparing your dog’s everyday wellness patterns.
- Daily Wellness:Track heart rate, breathing, motion, activity, and HRV data over time. Compare similar rest, sleep, walking, and daily routines to better understand changes from your dog’s personal baseline.
- Bluetooth Connection: The monitor connects to the app via Bluetooth. For a continuous connection, keep the app running in the background and stay within Bluetooth range. If the app is fully closed or the connection is interrupted, reopen the app and reconnect the device manually.
- Offline Data Storage:After first binding, the monitor can continue collecting data when your phone is away and store about 7 days locally. Reconnect nearby via Bluetooth to sync historical wellness reports. Live viewing requires a nearby connection.
- Micro-Vibration Sensing:BCG and PVDF sensing capture subtle mechanical vibrations related to heartbeat, breathing, and body movement without skin-contact electrodes. A stable, close fit helps support consistent signal collection.
What the early-2025 cattle detections showed
A notable development was the detection of H5N1 genotype D1.1 in dairy cattle in Nevada and Arizona. APHIS confirmed the Nevada detection by whole genome sequencing on January 31, 2025, after an initial detection through silo testing under the National Milk Testing Strategy. APHIS confirmed the Arizona detection on February 13 after state tracing and testing.
APHIS said D1.1 had been predominant in North American flyways in the previous fall and winter and had been detected in wild birds and mammals, as well as in spillovers into poultry. This context supports describing the cattle detections as spillovers consistent with broader wildlife circulation; it does not establish a specific route or transmission chain.
Rank #2
- REAL-TIME GPS TRACKING WITH UNLIMITED RANGE: Track your dog’s live location nationwide with updates every 2-3 seconds—up to 30x faster than competitors who only update once per minute. Perfect for keeping an eye on your dog no matter where they roam.
- VIRTUAL FENCES & LOCATION HISTORY: Set up safe zones and receive alerts when your dog leaves the area. Activate live tracking immediately to recover your dog, and review their location history to see where they've been.
- HEALTH & ACTIVITY MONITORING: Monitor your dog’s daily health, sleep patterns, and activity levels through the Tractive app, available on iOS and Android, so you can keep them in optimal shape.
- LIGHTWEIGHT, WATERPROOF DESIGN & LONG-LASTING BATTERY: This lightweight tracker is waterproof and rugged enough for outdoor adventures. The battery lasts up to 10 days, with extended life using Power Saving Zones.
- RISK-FREE TRIAL: This bundle includes 6 months of free premium service to cover all the costs of the integrated SIM card and data. No additional activation fee is required to start tracking your pet!
What happened to people?
As of February 24, CDC had confirmed three people whose illness began in 2025. CDC described all three as having higher-risk exposure to infected animals. These three cases are distinct from the broader cumulative count of 70 U.S. cases since April 2024 reported by CDC on March 19.
| Person and exposure | Reported illness and outcome | What CDC reported |
|---|---|---|
| Nevada dairy worker exposed to infected dairy cows | Conjunctivitis; recovered | No evidence of onward spread |
| Ohio poultry worker exposed to infected commercial poultry | Respiratory symptoms; hospitalized and recovering | No evidence of onward spread |
| Wyoming owner of an infected backyard poultry flock | Severe illness; hospitalized | No evidence of onward spread |
For the cumulative period since April 2024, CDC reported 70 U.S. cases as of March 19: 41 associated with dairy cows, 26 with poultry, and three with unknown exposure. These totals include cases from 2024 and must not be presented as early-2025-only counts. CDC said it had not identified human-to-human transmission in the United States and that immediate risk to the general public remained low. People with occupational or recreational exposure to infected animals faced greater risk.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #3
- REAL-TIME GPS TRACKING WITH UNLIMITED RANGE: Track your dog with live location updates every 2–3 seconds. Unlike others that update once a minute, Tractive lets you follow every step with no distance limits, anywhere in the world.
- VITAL SIGNS MONITORING: The Tractive smart tracker monitors changes in your dog’s heart and respiratory rates, helping detect potential issues before they become visible.
- HEALTH & BARKING ALERTS: The tracker learns your dog’s normal behavior and detects changes. If it notices unusual sleep, activity, or barking patterns, you’ll receive an alert so you can take action early.
- ESCAPE ALERTS & LOCATION HISTORY: Create custom virtual fences around your yard, dog park, or neighborhood. Get instant alerts if your dog leaves and review location history to retrace their steps.
- LONG-LASTING BATTERY, LIGHTWEIGHT & WATERPROOF: Tough yet light enough for any dog over 8 pounds. Fully waterproof, with up to 14 days’ battery life. Now featuring a brighter LED and louder sound for easier tracking.
What pet owners should know
FDA said felines, including domestic and wild cats, are particularly sensitive to H5N1. Its January 17, 2025 guidance advised pet owners to carefully consider the risk before feeding uncooked meat or uncooked pet food. FDA stated that H5N1 can be deadly to cats and dogs and that heat treatments have been shown effective at inactivating H5N1 in meat, milk, and egg products.
Practical precautions include keeping pets away from sick or dead birds and other potentially infected animals, and avoiding uncooked or unpasteurized animal-derived foods. If a pet may have contacted a suspect animal, contact a veterinarian for advice and explain the exposure. Do not assume a particular brand, supplement, or storage method prevents infection.
Rank #4
- REAL-TIME GPS TRACKING WITH UNLIMITED RANGE: Track your dog’s live location nationwide with updates every 2-3 seconds—up to 30x faster than competitors who only update once per minute. Perfect for keeping an eye on your dog no matter where they roam.
- VIRTUAL FENCES & LOCATION HISTORY: Set up safe zones and receive alerts when your dog leaves the area. Activate live tracking immediately to recover your dog, and review their location history to see where they've been.
- HEALTH & ACTIVITY MONITORING: Monitor your dog’s daily health, sleep patterns, and activity levels through the Tractive app, available on iOS and Android, so you can keep them in optimal shape.
- LIGHTWEIGHT, WATERPROOF DESIGN & LONG-LASTING BATTERY: This lightweight tracker is waterproof and rugged enough for outdoor adventures. The battery lasts up to 10 days, with extended life using Power Saving Zones.
- RISK-FREE TRIAL: This bundle includes 6 months of free premium service to cover all the costs of the integrated SIM card and data. No additional activation fee is required to start tracking your pet!
FDA also required covered pet-food manufacturers using uncooked or unpasteurized poultry- or cattle-derived ingredients to reanalyze their food-safety plans to include H5N1 as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard. That is a manufacturer requirement, separate from the precautions pet owners can take.
How to interpret outbreak counts
- Check the date range. A cumulative count since March or April 2024 is not an early-2025-only count.
- Separate animal detections from human cases. Flock, herd, and bird totals do not represent people infected.
- Keep categories distinct. Dairy herds, commercial flocks, backyard flocks, and human cases are different measures.
- Use attributed figures. CDC reported USDA’s animal-outbreak figures in its March 19, 2025 update; CDC reported the three 2025-onset human cases in its February 26 update.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was bird flu spreading in the U.S. in early 2025?
CDC described a multistate outbreak affecting dairy cows, poultry, and other animals. By March 19, 2025, it reported USDA’s cumulative figures of 989 affected dairy herds in 17 states since March 2024, and 336 commercial flocks and 207 backyard flocks since April 2024.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Best Value
- Pain-Free Blood Sugar Testing - The Advocate PetTest Genteel Lancing Device uses precision depth control to stay within the pain-free zone, making pet glucose monitoring gentle and stress-free for your cat or dog.
- No More Squeezing - This unique pet lancing device uses advanced vacuum technology to draw blood, eliminating the need for squeezing and minimizing the risk of pain or bruising when monitoring your cat/dog blood sugar.
- Flexible Depth Control - With 6 contact tip sizes and 2 lancet sizes, you can easily adjust the Genteel Lancet depth between 12 level combinations to suit your pet's specific needs - ensuring a comfortable blood glucose monitoring experience every time.
- Quick and Easy Testing - The process is simple and swift. Just firmly press the device against skin, click the button, maintain a vacuum seal for 5 seconds, remove it, and apply the blood drop to the test strip. It's a quick, five-step procedure that cuts down on stress.
- Comprehensive Package - Each PetTest Lancing Device comes with 6 sizes of contact tips, 10 sterile 21G Lancets, 10 Butterfly Lancets, written instructions and online video tutorials. It's compatible with our PetTest blood lancets, strips, and pet glucose monitors for an all-in-one monitoring kit.
Did the early-2025 animal detections mean many people were infected?
No. Animal detections and human infections are separate counts. CDC reported three people whose illness began in 2025 as of February 24, all with exposure to infected poultry or cattle. Its broader total of 70 U.S. cases since April 2024 was cumulative and included cases from 2024.
Can bird flu affect my pets?
FDA identified uncooked or unpasteurized animal-derived foods as a pet-safety concern, especially for cats, which it described as particularly sensitive to H5N1. Keep pets away from sick or dead animals and carefully consider the risks before feeding uncooked meat or uncooked pet food.
Was bird flu spreading from person to person in the United States?
CDC said it had not identified human-to-human transmission in the United States in the cited early-2025 updates. It assessed immediate risk to the general public as low while identifying greater risk for people exposed to infected animals.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
