Bird flu is back with a vengeance, and this time, it's personal. After a brief summer reprieve, the virus is spreading rapidly, threatening poultry farms and raising concerns among experts.
The summer months brought a much-needed break from the bird flu crisis. Egg prices stabilized, and the number of infected poultry flocks decreased. Officials could finally catch their breath. But, as Shauna Voss, Assistant Director of the Minnesota Board of Animal Health, put it, "It was lovely, but it didn't last."
With the arrival of fall and the migration of wild water fowl, bird flu is making a comeback. Geese, ducks, and cranes are mingling at lakes and ponds, sharing more than just water; they're spreading viruses too. And this is where it gets controversial: the migration season acts as a catalyst for the disease's spread.
Poultry farms are already feeling the impact. Over 4 million birds have been culled in the last month alone, with states like Minnesota and Iowa bearing the brunt. The trend aligns with an increase in infections among wild birds in northern regions. State officials are bracing for a challenging autumn, a season that has historically seen spikes in bird flu cases.
"We had our first confirmed positive last week," said Mike Naig, Iowa Agriculture Secretary. "The question now is how widespread it will become and what kind of fall we're facing." The impact on egg prices remains uncertain, with Naig adding, "The honest answer is we'll have to wait and see."
This is the fourth consecutive fall that bird flu infections have risen, indicating the virus's persistence and potential to become endemic in wild birds. "It's not going away," said Voss. "It seems deeply embedded."
And this is the part most people miss: the more the virus circulates, the higher the risk it poses to humans. Some experts fear that the Trump administration's cuts to mRNA research could hinder the development of a new vaccine if the virus mutates to infect humans more readily. For now, the health risk to people remains low, but officials, wildlife experts, and virologists are in a state of watchful waiting.
"It's an interesting time," said Declan Schroeder, an associate professor of virology at the University of Minnesota's College of Veterinary Medicine. "Everyone is holding their breath, wondering what will happen next."
Avian influenza was first detected in a U.S. commercial flock in February 2022, but it had been circulating among wild birds beforehand. The virus is almost always fatal for poultry, and as of this summer, over 175 million birds have been culled or killed. Two years ago, researchers made a startling discovery: bird flu had spread to dairy cows, and it was found in raw, unpasteurized milk. This prompted significant changes to farm practices and milk testing.
At least 70 people, mostly farmworkers with close contact to birds or cows, have been infected, and one person has died. Wild birds are believed to spread the disease to poultry farms through direct contact, contaminated feed, or when workers bring infected materials into barns.
"If you have one sick bird that moves into an area and infects others, the math suggests it will spread rapidly," explained Michael Ward, a professor of natural resources and environmental sciences at the University of Illinois. Ward added that habitat limitations are forcing birds to congregate, increasing the likelihood of viral spread. In Illinois, wetland habitat has shrunk due to drought, creating the perfect conditions for disease outbreaks.
In response to the rise in bird flu detections, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has pointed to a five-pronged strategy released in February, which includes $100 million for research into new biosecurity measures and vaccine development for poultry. Countries like France are already vaccinating poultry birds, but the USDA is still evaluating whether the U.S. should follow suit. The agency has not approved a vaccine, and implementing one could impact U.S. exports.
"An effective vaccine strategy would be beneficial for egg and turkey producers," said Naig, "but it must be carefully executed to avoid impacting other markets. We're awaiting USDA's vaccine strategy with anticipation."
Scientists have long feared that the bird flu virus could develop the ability to spread easily between humans. Even with the current low risk to humans, Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, advises taking basic precautions to prevent H5N1 and seasonal flu infections. "Get your flu shot, avoid raw milk and unpasteurized cheese during circulation periods, and keep your cats indoors during migratory bird season," Chin-Hong recommends.
The scenario of a person becoming infected with both H5N1 and seasonal flu simultaneously is concerning because it could allow the bird flu virus to more easily adapt its genetic code to humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stopped holding coordination calls on H5N1 with health providers this spring, a decision Chin-Hong regrets. He hopes the agency will resume these calls and disagrees with the Trump administration's termination of mRNA vaccine research funding.
The CDC did not respond to a request for comment.
So, what do you think? Is the bird flu situation under control, or are we facing a potential pandemic threat? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Article by Evan Bush, Science Reporter for NBC News.
