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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/strong>, virologists highlight the risks of the virus evolving, particularly as seasonal flu cases surge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Significant cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH<\/a>), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC<\/a>), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA<\/a>) have sparked fears about the government’s ability to monitor and manage the avian influenza outbreak. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA<\/a>), 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The H5N1 strain responsible for the current outbreak has followed an unusual trajectory. According to Professor Raina MacIntyre of the Kirby Institute<\/strong>, 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experts warn that simultaneous outbreaks of H5N1 <\/a>and seasonal flu could accelerate genetic reassortment\u2014a process where viruses exchange genetic material\u2014raising the risk of a strain better adapted to human transmission. <\/p>\n\n\n\n