Bird Flu Spillover Increases the Risk of Dangerous Human Variants

Bird flu, or H5N1, now infects over 40 different mammalian species, a dramatic rise from just a few years ago, increasing opportunities for the virus to mutate and become more transmissible or lethal to humans. 

As the virus becomes endemic in wild animal populations and continues to spread among poultry and dairy cattle, disrupting the agricultural industry and threatening human health, the United States needs a broader, long-term, multidimensional strategy for viral control.

1. While the current risk to the public is low, influenza viruses evolve unexpected ways, and recent mutations in severely infected human patients and cases of reinfected herds are warning signs that the virus may become more lethal and transmissible.
2. Each time the virus infects a new species, different strains can swap genetic material or develop mutations that could make the virus more dangerous to humans. It is unclear exactly how and to what extent the virus is spilling over among birds, cows, and other species—but it is clear that additional spillovers continue to occur. Consistent, real-time surveillance is needed to implement more targeted protective measures and mitigate the spread of H5N1.

3. The Trump administration announced a $1 billion strategy to provide additional relief to the poultry industry, expand the use of biosecurity measures, and advance the development of vaccines and therapies for livestock. However, federal research funding and public health communications freezes disrupt the United States’ ability to assess the state of the outbreak and convey the risk of the virus to farm workers and everyday Americans. 

    

Related Content

• The United States Needs to Step Up Its Response to Bird Flu
• Don’t Brush Off Bird Flu