March 10, 2025

Dear USET/USET SPF Family,

The USET Office of Tribal Public Health (OTPH) shared a programmatic alert on February 24, 2025, to keep USET member Tribal Nations informed about H5N1 bird flu cases, which have been identified within USET states. While the current risk to humans is low, it is important to stay informed and take preventative steps to protect individuals and communities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is hosting a briefing tomorrow, Tuesday, March 11, at 11:30 am Central/12:30 pm Eastern on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). This informational briefing will bring you up to date on its status, HHS and USDA engagement, and provide time for Q&A. Please register for the briefing.

If you have questions regarding the briefing, please do not hesitate to contact TribalAffairs@hhs.gov for more details.

Established in 1969, the United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET) is a non-profit, inter-Tribal organization serving thirty-three (33) federally recognized Tribal Nations from the Northeastern Woodlands to the Everglades and across the Gulf of Mexico. USET is dedicated to enhancing the development of Tribal Nations, improving the capabilities of Tribal governments, and improving the quality of life for Indian people through a variety of technical and supportive programmatic services.