Health experts are warning that the US has not learned key lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate the threat of pathogens like H5N1 bird flu. The virus has shown signs of its own pandemic potential, with over 65 confirmed cases in humans in 2024.
Testing for farm workers, who make up the majority of identified cases, is crucial but has been met with resistance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency claims testing is “out of date” but contradicts this by stating that more than 70,000 specimens have been tested, and over 10,000 people exposed to avian flu have been monitored.
However, experts are concerned about the risk of reassortment between seasonal flu and H5N1, which could give the bird flu virus more tools to infect humans. Dr. Deborah Birx has called for increased testing of farm workers, citing the need for wider-spread testing as seasonal flu begins to circulate in the US.
Despite the detected genetic mutations in a severe case in Louisiana, experts remain skeptical about the potential for human-to-human spread. Dr. Angela Rasmussen notes that while this sounds like good news, the H5N1 situation remains grim, with an explosion of human cases.
The CDC has confirmed 65 cases of H5N1 bird flu, with most associated with dairy herds and poultry farms. The severe case in Louisiana is the only one linked to backyard flocks. Dr. Paul Offit has called for clear evidence that the virus binds well to cell receptors in humans’ upper respiratory tracts.
Government agencies are now tracking the spread of the virus through dairy cattle, but some experts believe the USDA has been slow to respond. The lack of preparedness and lessons learned from COVID-19 have raised concerns about the country’s readiness for a potential outbreak.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2024/12/27/health/cdc-bird-flu-virus-mutations-analysis/index.html