TL;DR: A small backyard poultry flock in northern Iran was hit by the H5N1 bird flu virus, killing 10 birds. Authorities culled the remaining flock to prevent further spread. No human cases have been reported.
What Happened
- The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed an H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in Golestan Province, northern Iran, on October 7, 2025, following a report from Iranian veterinary authorities.
- The outbreak affected a backyard flock of 90 birds; 10 birds died, and the remaining 80 were culled to contain the virus.
- Laboratory testing by Iranian authorities confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic H5N1 subtype, specifically clade 2.3.4.4b, a strain seen in global outbreaks.
Public Health and Containment
- No human infections have been linked to this outbreak.
- WOAH stated the risk to public health remains low, as human transmission requires close contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.
- Containment measures included culling, site disinfection, movement restrictions, and heightened surveillance in nearby areas.
Virus Background
- H5N1 has caused global poultry losses since 2020 and remains a zoonotic threat.
- Over 246 million birds were lost worldwide between 2005 and 2020 due to H5N1.
- Iran experienced previous H5N1 outbreaks in 2021 and 2023 but this is the first in 2025.
Broader Impacts
- Economic: No large-scale losses reported yet, but commercial farms are at risk. Outbreaks can lead to trade restrictions and supply chain issues.
- Environmental: Spread is linked to migratory wild birds along the Caspian Sea route.
- Monitoring: WOAH is working with FAO and WHO for surveillance. Global experts are watching for virus adaptation in mammals, though no such mutation has been detected in this case.
Media Coverage
- Initial reports were published by Reuters on October 7, 2025, followed by outlets like Yahoo News, CGTN, and The Poultry Site.
Key Quote
- WOAH (via Reuters): “The outbreak killed 10 birds out of a flock of 90. All other birds were slaughtered.”
MORE : woah.org/en/disease/avian-influenza