H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak in US Expands to 66 Confirmed, 7 Probable Cases, Raising Pandemic Concerns

Dec 29, 2024, 06:32 PM

The H5N1 bird flu outbreak has escalated in the United States, with significant impacts on both animal and human health. In California, the USDA has confirmed 10 new infected dairy herds, bringing the state's total to 685 and the national count to 906. Additionally, two major outbreaks in Merced County, California, have led to the culling of over 1.7 million birds. The virus has also been detected in Tijuana's Morelos Park, prompting a 15-day closure of the park's lake. Human cases are on the rise, with the CDC reporting a total of 66 confirmed and 7 probable cases across the U.S. Health experts, including Dr. Deborah Birx, have raised concerns about the potential for another pandemic, citing insufficient testing and the risk of the virus mutating to spread more easily among humans. Dr. Leana Wen has called for increased testing and the expedited authorization of an existing H5N1 vaccine, warning that the current number of human cases might be an undercount due to limited testing efforts.