In this One Health Heroes update, Dr. Mandy Sorensen, communication specialist with the American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians, discusses:

• ​Avian influenza is now widespread across the U.S., affecting wild birds, backyard flocks, commercial poultry, and even dairy herds, underscoring the need for continued surveillance and reporting.
• ​Wildlife impacts are profound, with avian influenza linked to catastrophic population losses in Southern elephant seals, highlighting the broader biodiversity consequences of emerging diseases.
• ​Vaccine hesitancy is increasing among pet owners, with studies estimating hesitancy in ~21% of dog owners and ~25% of cat owners, mirroring trends seen in human medicine.
• ​Rabies remains a fatal but preventable disease, with recent cases illustrating how small wildlife exposures (including bats and skunks) can lead to tragic outcomes in both animals and humans.
• Canine parvovirus is resurging in some areas, causing severe, often fatal disease in unvaccinated puppies—reinforcing the importance of routine vaccination and herd protection.

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