The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has ended its emergency response for H5N1 bird flu, reporting only monthly cases combined with influenza activity. However, the World Health Organization reports 964 cases and 466 deaths from bird flu in 24 countries since January 2025.
Despite reduced reported cases in the US, experts warn that the lack of surveillance and inadequate vaccination options put the country at risk for a pandemic. Dr. Gigi Gronvall and Dr. Angela Rasmussen, virologists, express concerns about allowing the virus to spread unchecked, as it may reassort with circulating flu viruses and become easily transmissible to humans.
The issue is further complicated by President Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to shrink the government, resulting in budget cuts at health departments and a shortage of veterinarians. Immigrant farm workers are reluctant to seek care due to ICE crackdowns and imprisonment.
Kennedy’s proposal to relocate infected ostriches from Canada to Florida has been met with criticism from experts, who warn that this approach could set us up for a pandemic. The lack of surveillance, vaccine shortages, and general mistrust of evidence-based guidance leave the country vulnerable to a potential outbreak.
With no other options available, experts emphasize the importance of global biosurveillance and vaccination efforts to prevent a pandemic. However, the recent removal of the ACIP committee and restrictions on COVID-19 vaccines have raised concerns about the ability to provide accurate guidance during emergencies.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2025/07/09/cdc-bird-flu-response-cuts-could-lead-to-another-pandemic