Reports from the U.S. Department of Agriculture or CDC

Bird Flu Outbreak Affects 875 Herds Across 16 U.S. States, Spreads to Mexico, Threatening Global Health Crisis

Dec 25, 2024, 01:00 AM

The United States is grappling with a widespread bird flu outbreak that has escalated to the point of threatening another global health crisis. The virus, identified as the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain, has spread across at least 16 states, affecting 875 dairy herds. This outbreak, which began in cattle in northern Texas, has been exacerbated by a lack of effective government intervention, leading to fears of a potential human pandemic. The situation has been compounded by the virus's ability to infect humans, with over 60 cases reported in the U.S., primarily from contact with infected cows or poultry. The outbreak has also crossed into Mexico, with health authorities in Baja California closing two lakes in Tijuana after detecting sick birds. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated over $1.7 billion since 2022 to combat the virus on poultry farms and an additional $430 million for dairy farms, yet the spread continues unabated. Experts are alarmed by the government's slow response and the potential for the virus to mutate and become more transmissible among humans.