Apparently, H5N1, highly infective avian influenza A (bird flu), has become a great concern to public health officials across the U.S.

The possibility that bird flu can become the next big epidemic in the U.S. is real. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization are worried about it. Warnings are going out to farmers and backyard farmers that house all kinds of birds. The alarming death rates that are occurring across the U.S. gives us something to be concerned about.  

The CDC says that the current public-health risk posed by H5N1 remains low, but the federal government, in the waning days of the Biden administration, allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to ramp up preparations for a potential pandemic.

The H5N1 virus infection was first transmitted to humans in 1997 in Hong Kong, where 18 cases and six deaths were reported.

Human infections have primarily occurred through close contact with infected birds or contaminated environments, highlighting the importance of proper personal protective equipment when handling poultry or other potentially infected animals. In the U.S., the latest cases have been linked with exposure to dairy cows and infected poultry. While these cases were mild, they serve as a stark reminder that the virus is constantly evolving and adapting and will potentially cause a greater spread to humans, creating a risk of a pandemic in the U.S..

CDC and state and local health departments monitor people exposed to infected birds, poultry, dairy cows and other animals for 10 days after exposure. Between March 24, 2024 and now, there have been:

• at least 11,500 people monitored 
• at least 7,200 with exposures to dairy cows
• at least 4,300 with exposures to birds and other animals including poultry (non-dairy-cow source)

Illness in humans from avian influenza virus infections has ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death. There are two types of H5N1, low- and highly pathogenic. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus has been responsible for most human illness from avian influenza viruses reported worldwide to date, including the most serious illnesses with high mortality.

Human infections with avian influenza viruses can happen when virus gets into a person’s eyes, nose or mouth; or is inhaled. This can happen when virus is in the air (in droplets, small aerosol particles or possibly dust) and deposits on the mucous membranes of the eyes, or a person breathes it in, or possibly when a person touches something contaminated by viruses and then touches their mouth, eyes or nose.

The spread of bird flu viruses from one infected person to a close contact is rare, and when it has happened, it has only spread to a few people. However, because of the possibility that bird flu viruses could mutate and gain the ability to spread easily between people, monitoring for human infection and person-to-person spread is extremely important for public health.

It took 30 years to develop a polio vaccine and nine months to develop the COVID vaccine, while thousands were dying from COVID. Why do we have to wait for a pandemic before our government jumps on the bandwagon?

CDC does have a cadre of scientists working on a vaccine. It should be made available immediately to farmers working with birds and dairy cattle in states where the virus has been detected. However, it should be noted that if Robert F. Kennedy, an anti-vaxxer, gets confirmed to run Health and Human Services, the development of this vaccine may be halted. [No vote had taken place as of press time.] 

Develop the vaccine, test it and store it. Then if bird flu becomes pandemic, it will be immediately available.

Physicians and clinics must be immediately updated on the signs, symptoms and possible treatments available now.

Dairy and bird farmers must also be updated and begin wearing personal protective equipment while handling these animals.  Remember, H5N1 bird flu is highly pathogenic.

Michael Kossove is professor emeritus and adjunct professor of microbiology, Touro University School of Health Sciences.