The following statement on Nebraska’s avian flu outbreak may be attributed to Walter Sánchez-Suárez, Animal Behavior and Welfare Scientist at Mercy For Animals:
This latest outbreak in a Nebraska dairy herd clearly illustrates the severity of the H5N1 avian influenza epidemic that has plagued U.S. farms since 2022. The continued presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in both poultry and dairy operations at this time of year is deeply concerning as incidence of this infectious disease typically increases in the colder months.
This case adds to the nearly 175 million birds already culled since the start of the epidemic and to more than 1,000 dairy herds affected across 17 U.S. states since the virus was first detected in cattle in March 2024. It underscores the virus’s alarming ability to cross species, causing profound animal suffering and serious economic losses for producers and consumers, while heightening the risk of future outbreaks in humans and other animals.
Mercy For Animals calls for urgent, effective action to end this dangerous epidemic and the cruel mass culling that accompanies it. This means addressing the root cause—the industrial animal agriculture model—and replacing it with safer, more sustainable food systems that prioritize the well-being of animals, the environment, and public health.
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H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in a Nebraska dairy herd—marking the state’s first case in cattle and underscoring the virus’s continuing spread beyond poultry. Avian influenza continues to circulate among wild birds, cattle, and other mammals, making outbreaks like this persistent and increasingly threatening to animal welfare, food security, and public health.
Mercy For Animals’ investigations into industrial animal operations have repeatedly exposed overcrowded conditions, inadequate veterinary care, and other systemic failures that create ideal breeding grounds for H5N1. The Nebraska outbreak underscores the fragility of factory farming and the urgent need to move away from this high-risk model. Scientists warn that the virus is now jumping from birds to mammals, creating opportunities for mutation and increasing risks to humans. With no reliable vaccine available, mass culling remains the main—and inhumane—method of containment, while the continued occurrence of outbreaks even outside peak flu season highlights just how unstable and unsustainable industrial farming systems have become.
