Avian influenza, or bird flu, has resurfaced as a major global health concern in 2024. The United Nations reports that the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1 strain has spread to wildlife, infecting more than 500 bird species and at least 70 mammalian species. This virus has now reached 108 countries across five continents, posing a threat to even endangered species such as the California condor and polar bears. Alarmingly, for the first time, bird flu was detected in Gentoo and king penguins in Antarctica in January 2024, further highlighting the widespread impact of the disease.