Cambodia Reports First Human H5N1 Case in 2026 as Antarctic Wildlife Study Reveals Virus Spread and CDC Tracks Ongoing Outbreak

Bird Flu Bulletin: Daily H5N1 Update

Monday, February 16, 2026.

Good evening, this is your daily H5N1 update. I'm your host.

Top stories from the last 24 hours.

First, Cambodia reports its first human H5N1 case of 2026. A 30-year-old man from Kampot province tested positive after contact with dead chickens at his home. He suffered fever, cough, and abdominal pain but recovered fully after treatment and was discharged on February 14, according to Cambodia's Ministry of Health.

Second, a new study confirms H5N1 as the cause of the first wildlife die-off in Antarctica. More than 50 skuas perished during the 2023-2024 summers, showing severe neurological symptoms like twisted necks and circling. Researchers from University of California-Davis and Erasmus MC published these findings in Scientific Reports on February 12, highlighting skuas' scavenging role in virus spread.

Third, U.S. CDC reports no new human cases in the past day. National total remains at 71 since 2024, with 38 in California from dairy herds, 12 in Washington from poultry, and 10 in Colorado. Yesterday's count was also 71, per CDC's H5 bird flu situation summary. CDC notes low public health risk but continues surveillance of exposed workers; over 22,600 monitored with 64 detections.

No new guidance from health authorities today. CDC maintains monthly updates for monitoring data, referring animal detections to USDA.

Now, a brief word from expert Dr. Ralph Vanstreels, wildlife veterinarian at UC Davis One Health Institute.

In a recent interview, Dr. Vanstreels said: "This is the first study to show skuas died of H5N1 infection in Antarctica. Their scavenging spreads the virus, and without surveillance, we won't know the full impact on fragile populations."

Looking ahead, expect Cambodia to release contact tracing updates on the new case. Antarctic monitoring may intensify post-study. U.S. flu surveillance updates due first Friday of the month from CDC. Watch for any poultry or dairy reports from USDA.

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