Bird Flu Makes a Comeback with Fall Migration
The bird flu, which took a backseat during the summer, has returned with a vengeance. The break was a welcome relief, with egg costs dropping slightly, a reduction in the culling of sick flocks on farms, and a chance for officials to catch their breath.
However, this peaceful period was short-lived. The disease is now spreading rapidly due to the seasonal migrations of wild waterfowl, including ducks, geese, and cranes. As these birds journey, they gather at lakes and ponds, exchanging viruses.
Early Spike in Poultry Cases
The bird flu is already affecting poultry more than anticipated. Over the past month, more than 4 million birds have been culled in several states after testing positive for the virus, known as H5N1. This increase aligns with the spike in infections detected in wild birds in northern states.
Officials are preparing for a tough fall, as this is the period when cases have historically peaked. The first positive case was confirmed last week at a turkey farm, raising questions about the extent of the outbreak and the potential impact on the poultry industry.
It remains uncertain how the outbreaks will affect egg prices. The virus has shown an increase in infections for the fourth consecutive fall, suggesting that it has become widespread in wild birds and could pose a continuous risk to poultry.
Health Risks and Future Concerns
The continued circulation of the virus poses a risk that it could mutate to easily infect humans. However, the current risk to humans remains low. As we head into fall, officials, wildlife experts, and virologists are closely monitoring the situation.
The bird flu was first detected in a commercial flock in the U.S. in February 2022, but it had been circulating in wild birds before that. The virus is almost always lethal for poultry birds. By summer, more than 175 million birds had been culled or killed. The disease was found to have spread to dairy cows two years ago, leading to significant changes in farming practices and milk testing.
At least 70 people, mostly those working on farms and in close contact with birds or cows, have contracted the disease, with one person succumbing to it. The disease usually spreads from wild birds to poultry farms in several ways, including direct contact, contamination of feed, or when workers bring infected materials into barns.
Responses and Precautions
In response to the rise in bird flu cases, a five-prong strategy was released in February. This includes $100 million for research into new biosecurity measures and vaccine development for poultry. Some countries have already started vaccinating poultry birds, but it's still being evaluated whether the U.S. should follow suit.
Scientists have long worried that the bird flu virus might eventually mutate to spread effectively between people. Despite the current low risk to humans, experts advise taking basic precautions to prevent H5N1 infection as well as the seasonal flu. These precautions include getting your flu shot, avoiding raw milk and unpasteurized cheese, and preventing your cats from feeding outside during migratory bird season.
A situation where a person is infected with both H5N1 and seasonal flu could be problematic because it would allow the bird flu virus to more easily adapt its genetic code for humans.
The funding for mRNA vaccine research was cut by the previous administration, a move that some experts disagree with. This decision affected the development of a bird flu vaccine using the mRNA platform. It is hoped that agencies will resume coordination calls on H5N1 with healthcare providers.