As the bird flu continues to spread in the United States, researchers are on high alert for potential outbreaks and mutations that could make the virus more transmissible among humans.
What Bird Flu Experts Are Watching for in 2025
The recent surge in bird flu cases among people in the United States has researchers on high alert. Since early 2024, there have been 66 reported cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), with most cases linked to exposure to infected cattle or poultry.
Containment of the Cattle Outbreak
The U.S. Department of Agriculture first announced finding H5N1 in dairy cows in March, although researchers suspect the outbreak began in December 2023. To date, more than 900 herds of cattle across 16 states have tested positive for the virus, with the majority located in California.
While the USDA has implemented a national milk testing strategy and requires dairy cattle to test negative for H5N1 prior to transportation to a new state, experts say that further action is needed. “We need to start requiring personal protective equipment (PPE) for farm workers, such as gloves, eye protection, and mucosal protection,” says Seema Lakdawala of Emory University.
Genetic Changes to H5N1
Researchers are also monitoring the genetic changes to H5N1, which could potentially make it more transmissible among humans. Two recent cases of severe illness, including a death in Louisiana, have been linked to the D1.1 subtype of the virus, which is circulating in poultry and wild birds.
Studies have shown that mutations gained after infection could allow H5N1 to more easily infect people. These mutations are found in the genetic code for a protein called hemagglutinin, which helps the virus latch onto and invade cells.
Government Action
Many researchers believe that insufficient federal actions have been taken to manage bird flu thus far. The USDA has spent nearly $2 billion on H5N1 measures since 2022, but experts say that more needs to be done to contain the outbreak.
Dairy farm workers need better protection from the virus, and experts are calling for the deployment of H5 vaccines that have been stockpiled by the federal government. Around 10 million doses should be available by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
However, the Biden administration currently has no plans to deploy these vaccines, and researchers are worried about what will happen when President-elect Trump takes office later this month. His nominated HHS secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has expressed skepticism about vaccines, which could delay or prevent people from receiving flu shots.
- sciencenews.org | What bird flu experts are watching for in 2025
