Surge in Bird Flu Cases Sparks Concern as ‘Super Virus’ Spreads Across US Farms

Clear Facts

• The H5N1 bird flu, also known as the “super virus,” has been detected in farm animals and over 100 million birds across 48 U.S. states.
• Human cases of bird flu have been confirmed in Colorado, Texas, and Michigan, marking the most human bird flu cases in a state.
• Influenza expert Richard Webby classifies the worst-case scenario as a human bird flu pandemic, however, the current trajectory suggests no evidence of the virus being transmitted between humans.

As we approach summer, the anticipation of increased travel has health officials on their toes over another potential COVID outbreak. However, another deadly virus is on the rise globally – the H5N1 bird flu. The virus, which typically spreads through contact with sick or dead infected wild birds, has extended its reach, infecting domestic cats, dairy cows, and over 100 million birds in 48 American states.

Influenza expert Richard Webby has gone as far as labeling this strain of bird flu as a “super virus.” Ordinarily, bird flu does not pass onto humans, but recent reports indicate a rise in human cases.

“Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1,” as it is formally known, started to appear in late 2021. Since then, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and various state health departments have confirmed human bird flu cases in Colorado, Texas, and Michigan. This has added a new layer of concern to the ongoing health crises.

Earlier this month, 71 workers at a commercial egg-laying farm in Colorado were tested for the disease after exhibiting symptoms of bird flu. According to the CDC, those infected may experience various symptoms ranging from eye redness, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches, to more severe symptoms like high fever, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.

Out of those exposed, six farmers tested positive. While these numbers might seem relatively low, it is a significant milestone, marking the most human bird flu cases in a state. This development has health experts maintaining a cautious optimism about the potential of a human bird flu epidemic.

Webby suggests the bird flu “could disappear.” This is, of course, the best-case scenario. However, it remains the least likely due to the significant resources, cost, and research required to completely eradicate the virus from dairy herds and poultry farms.

Flu expert David Tophman expressed that “it’s going to be a lot more costly to deal with another pandemic than to deal with immunizing our farms.” This puts into perspective the potential economic impact of a widespread bird flu outbreak.

The worst-case scenario, as defined by health experts, would be a human bird flu pandemic. Currently, this seems unlikely as transmission is limited to infected cattle or chickens and predominantly affects farmworkers who regularly handle animals.

The trajectory of the current bird flu outbreak among mammals leads doctors to believe that the virus can’t be transmitted between humans, which would be “absolutely the worst-case scenario,” per Webby.

“There is no evidence at this point that this virus is going human to human, and therefore it really does not pose a threat to public health,” Jenna Guthmiller, an immunologist at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine, commented.

However, health officials are closely monitoring how the virus evolves and whether it will develop the ability to replicate in human cells. According to Webby, the “most-likely” scenario is the bird flu continuing to infect wild birds, cows, and chickens, which increases the risk of more farm workers falling sick and potentially spreading the disease.

“It’s like playing the lottery,” explained Topham of the various paths H5N1 could go down. “We’re giving this virus a lot of tickets.”

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