Why is "2020–2024 H5N1 outbreak" trending?

Wikipedia Overview

Since 2020, outbreaks of avian influenza subtype H5N1 have been occurring, with cases reported from every continent except Australia as of February 2025. Some species of wild aquatic birds act as natural asymptomatic carriers of a large variety of influenza A viruses, which can infect poultry, other bird species, mammals if they come into close contact with infected feces or contaminated material, or by eating infected birds. In late 2023, H5N1 was discovered in the Antarctic for the first time, raising fears of imminent spread throughout the region, potentially leading to a "catastrophic breeding failure" among animals that had not previously been exposed to avian influenza viruses. The main virus involved in the global outbreak is as H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genetic diversification of which with other clades has seen an evolution in the ability to cause significant outbreaks in a broader range of species, mammals included.