Experts Say the Bird Flu Could Be Much Worse Than We Think — Here’s Why

On February 19, Tulane University reported that a new variant of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, also known as bird flu, was found in cows and a dairy worker. But that’s not the only bad news. Scientists have also detected bird flu in three veterinarians working with cattle, which may signal a change in the way the virus is spreading.

According to the university, three veterinarians working with cattle have tested positive for bird flu without presenting any symptoms. In a separate statement, the American Veterinary Medical Association said a study found that “Among 150 practitioners tested, three had evidence of recent infection with H5N1, including two who hadn’t been exposed to animals confirmed or suspected to have H5N1 infections.” One of those infected vets didn’t even practice in a state with a confirmed H5N1 case. 

Sarah Michaels, an infectious disease expert at Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, says this study and others could indicate that the virus is far more widespread than we thought. 

“It will be difficult to contain,” Michaels said. “Recent screenings and the national milk testing program have shown that bird flu has spilled over from wild birds to cattle more than once. And this report of infections in three veterinarians highlights the importance of rapidly identifying infected dairy cattle, continued testing of bulk milk, and monitoring human infections among those at increased risk.”

As for the new strain, it’s known as the D1.1 variant, which Tulane explained had only been previously found in wild birds and some domestic poultry. However, now, it’s not only been found in cattle but also in a Nevada dairy worker, marking the third known human case involving the variant. This follows two other high-profile cases with D1.1, including the death of a Louisiana farmer who contracted it from his backyard flock and a teenager in Canada who was hospitalized but later recovered. And now that that are two types of the virus out there, experts say it will be hard to both track and contain the spread. 

“It’s endemic in cows now. There is no way this is going to get contained,” Seema Lakdawala, an influenza virologist and co-director of the Center for Transmission of Airborne Pathogens at Emory School of Medicine, shared with The Guardian. 

Adding fuel to the fire is the absolutely rampant spread of the flu in humans this winter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that there have been “at least 33 million illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths from flu so far this season,” marking one of the worst flu seasons in over a decade.  

“There’s a lot of flu going around, and so the potential for the virus to reassort right now is high,” Lakdawala additionally told The Guardian, noting there is the possibility of “reassortment” in animals.

While all this is really great, things could be worse than we know, as the Trump administration has halted communication with the World Health Organization, which is no longer receiving updates on either human flu or avian influenza. The administration has also halted the CDC’s weekly report on bird flu. 

“There’s no way Americans can protect themselves from bird flu unless the Trump administration stops recklessly withholding the latest information on where and how it’s spreading,” Hannah Connor, deputy environmental health director at the Center for Biological Diversity, shared in a letter co-signed by 28 public interest groups. “The most effective way to slow an outbreak of this magnitude is to routinely keep us all well informed. The Trump administration’s withholding of those details puts us at the mercy of the virus.”

As for what you can do to protect yourself, Michaels noted that “Eggs and meat should be cooked thoroughly, and people should refrain from drinking raw milk.” Emily Landon, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Chicago Medicine, echoed this sentiment in her own university’s statement, noting that while the risk to humans remains is low, it’s still important to stay vigilant. “The highest risk to most people would be through contaminated dairy products,” Landon noted. So, for now, it’s best to avoid raw milk and unpasteurized cheese. This also goes for your pets. 

As always, you should avoid contact with infected animals and wash your hands frequently if you do come in contact with any farm animals. The CDC also noted if you do consume meat, you need to cook it at proper temperatures — including cooking poultry and eggs to an internal temperature of 165˚F — to effectively kill any viruses. 

And all the experts agreed that if you haven’t received a flu shot this year, you should consider getting one for yourself or the kids in your life. 

“Many cases are among children, and fewer children are getting vaccinated against the flu compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic,” Michaels added. “It’s not too late to get a flu shot, and while it won’t protect against bird flu, it does provide important protection against seasonal influenza.