As the US battles a widespread bird flu outbreak, concerns grow over federal workforce reductions and restricted scientific communication. With key public health agencies facing staff cuts, experts warn that delayed data and insufficient response measures could exacerbate the situation.
The H5N1 virus has already devastated poultry populations, spread to dairy cattle in multiple states, and infected at least 70 people. While human-to-human transmission has not been confirmed, virologists highlight the risks of the virus evolving, particularly as seasonal flu cases surge.
Health Agency Cuts Raise Concerns Over Outbreak Response
Significant cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have sparked fears about the government’s ability to monitor and manage the avian influenza outbreak.
According to reports, thousands of staff members have been dismissed, including specialists in epidemiology and public health.
While the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service—a key unit investigating infectious diseases—has reportedly been spared, other departments have seen major reductions.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), responsible for overseeing food safety and animal health, has also suffered job losses, although some employees linked to the bird flu response have been rehired.
The cuts coincide with a freeze on most external communications from federal health agencies, including a directive limiting CDC officials from sharing data with the World Health Organization (WHO), according to sources.
Dr Amesh Adalja, an infectious diseases expert at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, noted that regular CDC and USDA briefings on the outbreak had stopped since the new administration took office.
These restrictions come at a time when health experts have been urging stronger biosecurity measures and more widespread testing to curb the virus’s spread.
According to a CDC study, two dairy workers may have transmitted the virus to their cats, highlighting the potential for further mutation as H5N1 circulates among different species.
Virus Adaptation Poses Long-Term Risks
The H5N1 strain responsible for the current outbreak has followed an unusual trajectory. According to Professor Raina MacIntyre of the Kirby Institute, the virus has spread across a wider range of bird and mammal species than in previous outbreaks, leading to increasing concerns about its ability to adapt to humans.
Since early 2022, the virus has been detected in poultry, wild birds, dairy cattle, and animals such as raccoons and bears across 17 states. This month, a newer variant was identified on farms in Arizona and Nevada, suggesting another spillover from wild birds into livestock.
Experts warn that simultaneous outbreaks of H5N1 and seasonal flu could accelerate genetic reassortment—a process where viruses exchange genetic material—raising the risk of a strain better adapted to human transmission.
The US is currently experiencing its most severe flu season since 2009, with over 29 million cases reported, according to the CDC.
Another major concern is the potential role of pigs in viral evolution. Their respiratory tracts can host both avian and human influenza viruses, making them a possible breeding ground for a more infectious strain.
“So what we worry about is the avian virus adapting and mutating to pick up the genetic characteristics from the human virus that allows it to bind easily to the human respiratory tract,” Professor MacIntyre explained.
While the US government has pledged to expand poultry vaccination and biosecurity measures, uncertainty remains about its broader strategy.
The appointment of vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy Jr as head of the Department of Health and Human Services has further raised concerns among public health professionals.
