A group of international virologists warned that the U.S. should step up its efforts to combat its one-year-old bird H5N1 flu outbreak and control the pandemic risk in the population.
High historical mortality from H5N1 shows that human and animal virologists from global viral networks say “inadequate consequences to the current threat” spans over 40 countries.
Their intervention on Tuesday highlighted the spread of H5N1 bird pathogens now found in poultry in all 50 states in the U.S., infecting dozens of people and causing at least one confirmed death.
As the Trump administration has pushed through spending cuts and curbs communication, they have also attracted attention to the impact of turmoil on U.S. scientific institutions on H5N1 surveillance efforts.
In an article in the journal Lancet Regional Health and Americans, scientists call on governments around the world to increase surveillance, implement biosafety measures and prepare for potential human-to-human transmission.
“At present, the risk of humans not dealing with infected animals is low because the virus cannot spread among people,” said Marion Koopmans, Viroscience Minister and Virsoscience Minister at the Netherland Islamic Islands Medical Center.
"However, if the virus picks up a mutation, this situation may change suddenly, if the mutation continues to cycle in mammalian form. Then we will look at a new possible pandemic situation."
Since March 2024, the U.S. epidemic has spread across the country, affecting more than 1,000 dairy farms and killing or triggering the elimination of tens of millions of poultry.
At least 70 human cases have been identified, with one death in Louisiana, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Both Joe Biden’s former administration and current President Donald Trump administration have raised criticisms because they did not do more to stop the spread.
The longer the outbreak lasts and the greater the spread, the greater the risk of H5N1 pathogens, mixing genetic material with other viruses and becoming more and more between species. Last month, the UK reported the first known case of H5N1 in sheep.
Global Virus Network scientists call for rapid sharing of U.S. genome sequencing information and related metadata, such as how and where samples are collected.
Current U.S. genomic data suggest "ongoing mutations" of the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in mammals such as sea lions and minks, scientists say.
They added that if the pathogen exchanges genetic material with a pig or human seasonal influenza virus, it can make them spread between people.
The Trump administration has also curbed communication from various scientific institutions as it tries to curb research in areas such as diversity, vaccines and climate change.
“We regret the restrictions on the CDC and other public health transmission caused by the current U.S. political climate,” said the virologist. “This hinders the effectiveness of the full implementation of protective public health measures.”
Existing bird flu tests are not enough to stop its spread because of its impact on poultry flocks, and it "has always maintained egg prices in the United States."
They added that government-mandated milk testing is a "critical first step" in surveillance, but is "not extensive enough" because implementation varies from state to state.