Public Health Experts Claim More Needs to Be Done to Stop the Spread of Bird Flu
Global virus and public health experts gathered to assess the need for an enhanced response to the bird flu spreading among humans and animals.
More enhanced approaches to stopping the spread of H5N1 (bird flu) are crucial in avoiding a pandemic-level event in the future, according to a study published in The Lancet.1 Despite the North American bird flu outbreak considered “mild” with just 70 reported human cases, a historical mortality rate of around 50% shows that threats of the bird flu deserve no underreactions.2
“Recent animal and human infections with highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus in the US have raised concerns related to an emerging pandemic. From 2024 through April 2025, there have been confirmed cases in 995+ dairy cow herds, 168+ million birds, 1650+ flocks, and at least 70 humans with the epizootic now present in all 50 states and human cases in 13 states and Canada,” wrote authors of the study.1
When compared with other recent viral disease outbreaks—most notably the COVID-19 pandemic—the current bird flu outbreak may not seem too alarming to the general public, as one of the most recent human cases reported in the US was back in February. That case was reported in a dairy farm worker in Ohio, and it marked the 68th US bird flu case out of the 70 total that have been reported.3
Poultry and dairy farms continue to lose profits and Americans face higher grocery store prices as a result of the bird flu. | image credit: Happy Photo Stock / stock.adobe.com
Despite the virus slowing down amongst humans, there are several concerning factors that have caused infectious disease, public health, and virology experts to raise alarms.
READ MORE: FDA Grants Fast Track Designation for Potential Bird Flu Vaccine
“One mystery is the sporadic H5N1 infections that have occurred in humans with no known contact with infected animals, some of which resulted in severe disease; the first confirmed death in the US is an individual who likely contracted infection from wild birds that died on his property,” they wrote.1 “While the H5N1 outbreak in dairy cows and associated farm workers has not resulted in sustained human-to-human transmission, the possibility of virus adaptation and widespread infections requires proactive and vigilant measures.”
In the researchers’ report, they outlined several details explaining the status of the bird flu in the US, mitigation tactics to help prevent its spread, and what public and federal employees can be doing to contribute to stopping the virus.
“Until recently, human H5N1 infections globally were primarily the result of bird-to-human transmission, typically arising from direct or indirect contact with infected poultry or contaminated environments,” continued the authors. “These sporadic human infections increase the opportunities for a virus with sustained ability of human-to-human transmission.”
Outside of government and public health employees, the report also provided details on key approaches the dairy and poultry industries should be taking in order to keep workers and consumers safe from contamination. Many of the safety approaches that researchers suggested are already in use across dairy and poultry farms as well as those that distribute dairy and poultry products to everyday consumers.
However, it’s crucial that industry workers prioritize the safety of their workplaces and products, as outbreaks have already negatively impacted egg prices, which have reached an all-time high in the US. Poultry and dairy farms continue to lose profits and Americans face higher grocery store prices as a result of the bird flu. But until viruses are fully eradicated, approaches to stopping the bird flu continue to prove necessary despite the financial downfalls.
Researchers are working around the clock to better understand the “mystery” of bird flu reaching humans that had no contact with the virus. In the meantime, other industry experts are attempting to navigate the ongoing bird flu issue amid massive job cuts at the CDC, FDA, and beyond.4
“It is a complicated, joint effort between the USDA, CDC, and other entities within the federal government to try and characterize and respond to these types of outbreaks,” James Lawler, MD, MPH, Director at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Global Center for Health Security, said.5 “I certainly think that dramatic cuts in their staffing and budget are going to have a negative impact in our ability to do that.”
While in some people’s eyes, the US may have a firm grasp on the spread of bird flu among humans, others would argue that the nation’s leaders are putting the country in serious danger of a pandemic-level occurrence in the near future. Regardless of the outbreak’s true extent or threat of pandemic, experts will continue to increase efforts surrounding surveillance, data sharing, preparedness, infrastructure strengthening, and so much more.1
“While the current North American outbreak is largely mild, historic mortality rates of 50% from H5N1 in humans suggest the terrible consequences of underreacting to current threats. More should be done to mitigate spread of bird flu to humans,” concluded authors of the study.
READ MORE: Bird Flu Hospitalizes 2 More Patients as Outbreaks Increase
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