As bird flu spreads uncontrollably on American farms, top health experts have warned that the US is on the verge of another epidemic.
Nearly 1,000 dairy cow herds have been impacted by the H5N1 outbreak thus far, and over 70 human cases—including the first verified death—have been reported.
According to scientists from the Global Virus Network (GVN), the US poultry sector is seriously at risk, especially in regions with large farming densities and where personal protective equipment may not be widely available.
The bird flu outbreak in the United States has resulted in the loss or culturing of over 168 million poultry since 2022, driving up the cost of eggs.
Experts warn that mutations and reassortments, which occur when two viruses infect a host at the same time and exchange genetic material.
