Arizona

Bird flu found in Arizona milk suggests another spillover from birds to cows

Published

11 months ago

February 14, 2025

Bird flu found in Arizona milk suggests another spillover from birds to cows

It appears that there may have been another spillover of H5N1 bird flu virus from wild birds into dairy cattle. The Arizona Department of Agriculture announced Friday that it had found the virus in milk from a herd of cows in Maricopa County, which contains the state capital, Phoenix.

This is the first detection of H5N1 in dairy cows in Arizona, making it the 17th state in which affected cows have been found. Nearly 970 herds have tested positive since the outbreak was first identified in late March 2024.

The Arizona detection occurred as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Milk Testing Strategy, which samples bulk milk looking for presence of H5N1 viruses. Last week, USDA and Nevada’s Department of Agriculture announced a detection there of H5N1 in dairy herds.

Since it was first discovered that bird flu viruses were infecting cows and spreading among herds, it was thought that all of the detections were connected — that there had been a single jump of the H5N1 virus into cows, in either late 2023 or early 2024, likely in Texas. That assessment was based on ongoing analysis of the genetic sequences of the viruses, which belong to a family of H5N1 known as clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype B3.13.

But the discovery of the virus in milk from Nevada herds in early January — results that were only released last week — showed that a different version of the virus was responsible for those infections. That virus belonged to the same clade, but was of the D1.1 genotype, a version of the virus responsible for a severe infection of a teenager in British Columbia, Canada, in November, and the death of a person who owned a backyard poultry flock in Louisiana in January.

The virus isolated from the milk of the Arizona herd was also a D1.1 virus, but apparently a different version of it.

“This detection of avian influenza is consistent with a D1.1 genotype and unrelated to the recent Nevada detection of this virus,” the Arizona statement said. “This D1.1 genotype bears no features that would make it more likely to infect humans.”

When the Nevada detection was made public, flu scientists warned that more spillovers into cows were likely, given how prevalent H5N1 is in wild birds across the country. But Arizona’s announcement still came as a surprise.

“I definitely thought there would be more jumps found through milk testing. But I have to confess I did not think it would happen quite so fast, nor in my own backyard as I looked north, over Maricopa County, to what’s happening in Nevada!” Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona, told STAT by text.

Prior to the outbreak in cows, the United States had only ever detected one human H5N1 infection, in an individual who was involved in culling infected poultry in Colorado. That infection occurred in 2022.

But over the past year, there have been 68 confirmed human cases, and a number more where state laboratories have seen a positive result but additional testing done at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could not confirm the case, often because of low levels of viral material or degradation of the sample during transport. The majority of these cases have occurred in people with direct contact with dairy cows or poultry flocks, which are also susceptible to contracting the virus from wild birds.

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Arizona

Multiple freeways closed as snow moves into northern Arizona

Published

3 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Multiple freeways closed as snow moves into northern Arizona

A winter storm sweeping across the state was dumping snow and whipping up gusty winds in northern Arizona, forcing multiple highway closures and travel advisories throughout the region.

Snow moved into the high country early Jan. 8 and was expected to continue through the afternoon and evening. Flagstaff had picked up 2 to 4 inches, with snow reaching lower elevations, including Prescott and Sedona, according to the National Weather Service in Flagstaff.

“In our area we expect it to come to an end here later this afternoon and early this evening, with only an inch or two more here in the Flagstaff area,” said Brian Klimowski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Flagstaff. “It’s going to continue this evening and overnight to our east.”

Snow levels dropped as a cold front moved into the region, falling from about 6,000 feet at sunrise to as low as 4,000 feet by late evening. Forecasters say heavier snow was likely this afternoon and evening as the system moves through.

“Roads are bad right now,” Klimowski said. “The highways will be very slick, and we expect conditions will remain in a deteriorated state here this afternoon to this evening, especially along and east of the I-17 corridor.”

Which highways are closed in northern Arizona?

Several major highways across the high country were closed on Jan. 8 due to winter weather and related crashes, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation.

As of the afternoon, the following closures were in place:

Interstate 40 eastbound at US 93 (milepost 72)
Interstate 40 eastbound at State Route 89 in Ash Fork (milepost 146)
Northbound Interstate 17 at State Route 169 (milepost 278)
State Route 64 (both directions) between mileposts 244-264

ADOT said there is no estimated reopening time for any of these highways.

Drivers can check the latest road closures and travel conditions through ADOT’s AZ511 system, with an online interactive map and mobile app. Information is available at AZ511.gov or by calling 511 from within Arizona.

Snow, wind and cold persist

Flagstaff could see snow totals around 2 to 5 inches, with more at the higher elevations. Snow will continue across eastern Arizona into the evening Jan. 8 and early on Jan. 9, including parts of Black Mesa, the Chinle Valley and the Chuska Mountains.

Gusty winds could reduce visibility, especially in areas with blowing snow. Winds will shift northerly overnight, summoning colder air as the system departs.

“It’s going to dry out,” Klimowski said. “It’s going to be cold and blustery tomorrow and then a slow warming trend through much of next week.”

Lows on Jan. 9 will be 10 to 15 degrees below normal, with wind chills near zero in the High Country. While snow will cease by Jan. 9, slick roads and hazardous conditions could remain,

“Be careful if you’re traveling tonight,” Klimowski said. “It’s going to be slick out there.”

Why does it snow so much in Flagstaff? Here’s what to know

Flagstaff may be in a state known for its scorching summers and years-long droughts, but it is one of the snowiest cities in the United States.

Hayleigh Evans writes about extreme weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Email her with story tips at hayleigh.evans@arizonarepublic.com.

(This story has been updated to add a new video).

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Arizona

Arizona, career nights from Burries, Krivas beat K-State

Published

15 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Arizona, career nights from Burries, Krivas beat K-State

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Brayden Burries scored 28 points, Motiejus Krivas added a career-high 25 and No. 1 Arizona remained unbeaten with a 101-76 win over Kansas State on Wednesday night.

Arizona (15-0, 2-0 Big 12) is off to its best start since winning the first 21 games of the 2013-14 season. Arizona won by at least 18 points for the 10th consecutive game, matching a mark Michigan had earlier this season that tied for the longest such run since 2003-04.

Burries had his fifth 20-point game and matched his career high by going 12 for 16 from the field while adding nine rebounds. It was his 10th straight game in double figures, including at least 20 points in five of those, after just one over his first five.

Krivas was 7 of 10, making 11 of 13 free throws, and had 12 rebounds.

Koa Peat had 15 points and 10 rebounds and Tobe Awaka added nine and 11 as Arizona outrebounded Kansas State 55-32. Arizona shot 49.3% from the field but was just 3 of 16 from 3-point range.

Kansas State (9-6, 0-2) went 8 for 36 from deep and shot 33.8% overall. PJ Haggerty led the way with 19 points on 8-of-20 shooting, while Nate Johnson added 15 and Dorin Buca 12.

Down 15 at the half, Kansas State pulled within 58-49 with 16:09 left on a 3-pointer by Johnson. Arizona responded with a 6-0 run and kept the margin at least 12 the rest of the way. Back-to-back dunks by Burries and Peat and a corner 3-pointer by Jaden Bradley keyed a 13-0 run to put Arizona ahead 92-65 with 3:31 remaining.

It built a 10-point lead less than six minutes into the game and upped it to 20 with 2:52 left in the first half. Burries had 16 before halftime.

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Arizona

Arizona HS football’s No. 1 2027 prospect has ASU, Miami high on list

Published

1 day ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Arizona HS football’s No. 1 2027 prospect has ASU, Miami high on list

Hildebrand is ranked as the No. 13 overall offensive tackle in the nation for the 2027 class by 247Sports.
Arizona State, Miami, Alabama, Texas A&M and USC are among his current favorites.
The 6-foot-6 left tackle has started every varsity game since his freshman year at Chandler Basha.

Chandler Basha left tackle Jake Hildebrand, the state’s No. 1 2027 college football prospect, said Arizona State and Miami are among the top potential schools on his recently revealed 10-best list.

Miami is playing in the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl as part of the College Football Playoff semifinal against Ole Miss at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Jan. 8.

Hildebrand, 6-foot-6, 293 pounds, has started every varsity game since his freshman year and helped lead the Bears to the Open Division state title this past season. He won’t be able to attend the Fiesta Bowl because he’s in San Antonio, getting ready to play in the Jan. 10 Navy All-American Bowl. The game airs at 11 a.m. MST on NBC.

Hildebrand also has CFP semifinalists Indiana and Oregon, along with Texas A&M, Alabama, USC, Ohio State and Texas among his top 10 colleges.

“A few schools that are my favorite from the top 10 are ASU, Alabama, Texas A&M, Miami and USC,” Hildebrand said in a direct message to The Arizona Republic. “They have definitely been the schools that have been contacting me the most and built the best relationship with.”

There is no timetable for when Hildebrand will commit. He could wait until he makes trips this spring, summer and fall. But he is among the most coveted left tackles in the country, who has 38 offers, according to 247Sports.

The 247Sports Composite has Hildebrand ranked as the No. 13 overall offensive tackle in the country in the 2027 class. He is ranked No. 1 in the class of 2027 by The Republic.

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert

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