The Pan American Health Organization has launched an interactive dashboard to monitor avian influenza A(H5N1) cases throughout the Americas and Caribbean, providing real-time data for regional health authorities.
The new platform tracks outbreaks in birds, mammals, and humans, incorporating data from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). Between January and December 2024, the dashboard has recorded 67 human cases – 66 in the United States and one in Canada – along with more than 1,300 animal outbreaks across the region.
“As concerns grow over the spread of this disease, the availability of accurate, real-time information is crucial for authorities to prepare, prevent new outbreaks and protect public and animal health in the region,” PAHO officials said.
The dashboard includes detailed information about patient symptoms and outbreak patterns, designed to help authorities make swift, informed decisions during potential outbreaks. While PAHO classified the risk of zoonotic avian influenza as moderate in a December 2023 assessment, no human-to-human transmission has been identified to date.
PAHO has also released a timeline tracking avian influenza events in the Americas from 2020 through December 2024, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration in monitoring and controlling zoonotic diseases.
The organization stressed that the new platform strengthens active surveillance efforts to prevent potential transmission to humans across the Americas and Caribbean region.