Global health agencies recently warned of the continuing avian influenza (influenza A H5N1) outbreaks in birds and mammals and the increasing risks to people. 
The U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) today announced two additional human infections since March 2023, increasing England's total to 5 detections since 2021, including one in December 2021.
As of July 10, 2023, 144 individuals from 8 infected premises have been tested, of which four were positive (2.7% positivity).

While the new flu season is beginning in the United States, influenza-related fatalities from the 2022-2023 season are still being counted.
The National Center for Health Statistics Mortality Surveillance data available on July 6, 2023, as of week #26, among the 1,091 pneumonia, influenza, and/or COVID-19 deaths reported, 186 had COVID-19 listed as an underlying or contributing cause of death, and eight listed influenza on the death certificate.

The U.K.'s Department of Health and Social Care Media Centre recently reconfirmed it would offer a nasal influenza vaccine for the 2023-2024 flu season.
On July 6, 2023, it was announced that over three million pupils in secondary school years, 7 to 11, will be offered a nasal spray flu shot through their school's vaccination program beginning in early September 2023.
Consent letters will be sent to parents and guardians before the school clinics with information on the flu vaccination. School-age immunization providers will deliver the vaccine through the autumn term.

Two new reports were recently published with information on additional sporadic avian influenza (bird flu) human cases and outbreaks in wild birds, poultry, and other animals such as cats.
On June 30, 2023, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed Poland's Chief Veterinary Officer of Poland announced that about 20 samples from domestic cats from different cities have tested positive for A(H5N1) influenza virus.

While the United States is preparing for its next flu season with updated flu shots, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported on the global situation.
On June 26, 2023, the WHO announced Influenza Update N° 448, which stated influenza detections remained low globally.
However, what occurs in one hemisphere does not necessarily forecast what will happen in the other hemisphere because evolving influenza viruses impact populations differently, says the WHO.

As the detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) decreases, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it is providing $502 million under the Animal Health Protection Act to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to prepare for future bird flu outbreaks.
In May 2022, there were a total of 18 commercial poultry HPAI detections in the U.S.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) emphasizes the importance of ongoing surveillance to detect human infections with influenza A viruses, including the highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.
During the Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity (COCA) call on June 20, 2023, CDC presenters gave a comprehensive overview of novel influenza A viruses, including avian influenza vaccines.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published Influenza Update N° 447, which reported influenza detections decreased further in the northern hemisphere. In contrast, some countries in the southern hemisphere reported an increase in recent weeks.
In the temperate zones of the northern hemisphere, influenza activity continued to decrease and was reported at low levels or below the seasonal threshold in most reporting countries.
As of June 12, 2023, the WHO confirmed in Oceania, influenza activity increased slightly, following trends similar to previous seasons.

While the ending of the 2022-2023 flu season in the United States is good news for many, it also indicates that ever-evolving influenza viruses are heading to the Southern Hemisphere.
On May 3, 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) published Influenza Update N° 444, which confirmed influenza detections decreased further in the Northern Hemisphere, while some countries in the South reported increased detections in recent weeks.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently authorized the first over-the-counter (OTC) at-home diagnostic test to differentiate between flu viruses.
And this innovative test can detect the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and results are produced in about thirty minutes.
Furthermore, the test can be purchased without a prescription ($99) and performed completely at-home.