Although avian influenza (bird flu) viruses usually do not infect people, there have been some rare cases of human infection.
Human infections with bird flu viruses can happen when the virus gets into a person's eyes, nose, or mouth or is inhaled.

Recent reports indicate that the multi-year, global outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus has reached the state of Texas.
In late March 2024, the Texas Animal Health Commission announced that dairy cattle in the Texas Panhandle had tested positive for avian influenza A(H5N1).
Subsequently, on April 1, 2024, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported one confirmed human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in Texas. The affected person had direct exposure to dairy cattle suspected of being infected with avian influenza.

It is essential to remember that various airborne viruses spread throughout the year, even as respiratory diseases continue to decline from their peak in late December 2023.
Viruses such as influenza and Respiratory Syncytial virus displayed both seasonal and regional outbreaks last winter.
Human respiratory viruses include a broad range of viruses transmitted mainly by infected persons.

In the United States, influenza is a significant health concern each year, affecting millions of people and leading to hospitalization and death for many.
Flu vaccines have been recommended for over five decades and have been proven to lower the risk of flu and its severe complications in those who receive it.
The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually in time for newer flu vaccines to be manufactured each year.

Influenza vaccines have provided moderate yet crucial protection against laboratory-confirmed influenza, outpatient visits, and hospitalizations for the past few decades.
Although influenza vaccine's effectiveness does vary based on virus type and age group, healthcare providers have emphasized the need to tailor vaccination strategies for those at the most significant risk.

The U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report released last week confirmed a significant increase in seasonal influenza activity. This situation persists in all ten geographic regions.
To better visualize the impact of the ongoing 2024 flu season, Walgreens Flu Index's latest chart highlighted the top ten cities offering antiviral medications used to treat influenza across Walgreens locations nationwide. 
As of late February 2024, these are the leading markets:

Once thriving, the influenza vaccine business in the United States is on a dramatic downward trend. Only 157 million flu shots have been distributed so far during the 2023-2024 flu season.
This data indicates a 19% decrease for the 2020-2021 season when 194 million flu shots were distributed.
With the influenza vaccine's efficacy hovering around 50%, the protective benefits people receive cannot be the reason behind this sudden, negative trend.

It's important to remember that influenza vaccine protection starts very strong but declines throughout flu season as antibody levels wane.
A study published in Eurosurveillance on February 22, 2024, compiled data across nine flu seasons in Ontario, Canada, revealing that influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) waned about 9% every 28 days beginning 41 days post-vaccination.
This trend was detected in adults but not in children.

As a global leader in the protection of public health, CSL Seqirus announced today that it is working to change the formulation of its influenza vaccine portfolio.
On February 8, 2024, Seqirus confirmed the B/Yamagata influenza virus strain will be removed from its influenza vaccines distributed in the United States, preferably in time for the 2024-2025 flu season. 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 157 million influenza vaccines were already distributed during the 2023-2024 flu season. 

JAMA Medical News recently published a Perspective explaining how new phrases may apply to recent respiratory illnesses in children in various countries.
Published on January 10, 2024, Rita Rubin, MA, discussed the ongoing debate about how the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to increased rates of diseases such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus.
Much of the discussion has centered around immunity debt and immunity theft, terms born of the pandemic and not found in textbooks.