Background: An epizootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) has spread worldwide since 2022. Even though this virus has been extensively studied for many decades, little is known about its evolution in South America.
Methods: Here, we describe the sequencing and characterization of 13 H5N1 genomes collected from wild birds, poultry, and wild mammals in Peru during the genomic surveillance of this outbreak.