First U.S. Bird Flu Death Raises Concerns Over Trump's Administration Readiness

Jan 6, 2025, 08:37 PM

An increase in human cases of bird flu is sparking concerns about the readiness of the incoming Trump administration to respond to a potential public health emergency from avian influenza. Scott Gottlieb and Luciana Borio wrote that the Biden administration's bird flu response has been too slow, and now comes a test for Trump's White House. Former COVID-19 czar Dr. Ashish Jha has called for new investments in a new generation of vaccines to combat the looming threat of bird flu, emphasizing the need to develop vaccines and advanced testing as a top priority. These concerns come as Louisiana reports the first human death from H5N1 bird flu in the United States. The patient, over the age of 65 with underlying medical conditions, contracted the virus after exposure to a combination of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds. Health officials have stated there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission, and the risk to the general public remains low.