Black vulture study raises concern about year-round H5N1 spread

A new University of Georgia study in Scientific Reports found that highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 was detected in 113 of 134 dead black vultures examined from seven southeastern states in 2022 and 2023, or 84.3% of the birds tested. Researchers said the species’ scavenging behavior, including feeding on infected carcasses and even dead cohort birds, may be helping sustain transmission outside the usual seasonal pattern for avian influenza. The paper, published January 23, 2026, adds to a growing body of evidence that black vultures are unusually vulnerable to fatal H5N1 infection and may help maintain year-round circulation in some wildlife settings. (nature.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the findings sharpen the wildlife-health and biosecurity picture around H5N1. Black vultures are common around farms, roadkill sites, landfills, and carcass disposal areas, which means they can intersect with poultry, livestock, companion animals, and people. USDA APHIS continues to emphasize wild bird surveillance and wildlife management as part of avian influenza control, and the new study suggests scavenger species deserve closer attention in risk assessments, carcass management, and cross-species exposure investigations. (direct.aphis.usda.gov)

What to watch: Expect more surveillance work on scavenger species, population-level impacts, and whether findings like these influence wildlife, farm biosecurity, or vaccination discussions for high-value captive birds and endangered vultures. (nature.com)