Experts warn of a pandemic risk as the United States faces an increasing threat from bird flu.
April of 2025 Prominent international health experts are raising the alarm as the H5N1 avian flu virus is causing an increasing issue in the United States. The US may be on the verge of another pandemic, according to the Global Virus Network (GVN) and other top virologists, since outbreaks on American farms are getting out of hand.
After starting to get worse in 2022, the avian influenza outbreak has now spread from poultry to dairy cattle, which is an unusual and worrisome occurrence. The virus has been found in around 1,000 herds of dairy cows nationwide. The virus has significantly and concerningly increased its influence on public health, with over 70 human infections documented so far, including at least one recorded death.
The poultry sector in the United States, which has long been at the forefront of the threat posed by zoonotic diseases, is under tremendous strain. Infection or culling has resulted in the loss of nearly 168 million birds since the outbreak began. The financial cost is enormous, pushing egg prices to all-time highs and jeopardizing the stability of food supply systems.
High-density farming settings, where animals are housed in close quarters, and irregular usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) by agricultural workers are of particular concern to GVN experts. Cross-species transmission is more likely to occur under these circumstances, which also provide the perfect setting for viral proliferation.
Even while there hasn’t been any evidence of persistent human-to-human H5N1 transmission thus far, virologists caution that the virus’s potential for mutation presents a significant risk. A major worry is the potential for reassortment, which is the exchange of genetic material between two distinct viruses that co-infect the same host. Recombining H5N1 with a virus that spreads easily among people could create a pathogen that could cause a worldwide health emergency.
According to Dr. Peter Palese, director of the Global Virus Network and a pioneer in influenza research, “the risk is not hypothetical.” We are witnessing a virus that is rapidly mutating, spreading across host species, and breaking down barriers between species. That type of virus has the potential to cause a pandemic if the proper mutations take place.
As the situation worsens, the GVN is urging immediate international assistance. Enforcing strict biosecurity measures across farms and animal processing facilities, such as improved hygiene protocols, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and better animal housing conditions; educating the public and farm workers about the risks of H5N1, safe handling of poultry and dairy products, and early symptoms of infection; and creating and stockpiling vaccines and antiviral medications tailored to H5N1 and related influenza strains are some of the main recommendations.
“Governments cannot afford to make the same mistakes they did during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. Palese stated. “Instead of acting reactively, we must act proactively. Getting ready today will save lives later.
The similarities to the early stages of COVID-19 are becoming more difficult to overlook. Outside of specialist scientific circles, a virus that was previously mostly disregarded is rapidly spreading throughout the general population. A perfect storm is being created by the combination of animal-to-human transmission, low public awareness, and inadequate farm-level precautions.
Health officials advise the public to use caution rather than panic. The outbreak and its effects on worldwide public health are being closely watched by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
More than just a scientific test, the developing H5N1 catastrophe is a test of international collaboration, political will, and public health infrastructure. We cannot afford to be complacent, according to health professionals, as the COVID-19 pandemic is still vivid in our minds.
Dr. Palese stated that there is still time to stop a pandemic. However, the opportunity is closing. This time, before it’s too late, we need to act decisively using the systems, skills, and knowledge we’ve built since 2020.
