Health experts have issued stark warnings that the United States is facing another pandemic as bird flu spreads uncontrollably across the country.
The H5N1 outbreak has now affected nearly 1,000 dairy cow herds nationwide and resulted in more than 70 human infections.
The virus has claimed its first confirmed human death in the US, with a person in Louisiana succumbing to the illness in January.
Experts from the Global Virus Network (GVN) warn that the US poultry industry faces significant risk, particularly in areas with high-density farming.
Countries must prepare for the possibility of human-to-human spread to avoid chaos reminiscent of the early COVID-19 pandemic
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Since 2022, more than 168 million poultry in America have been lost or culled due to the outbreak.
This devastating toll has caused egg prices to skyrocket across the country.
The virus has now been detected in all 50 states, with infections recorded in various animal populations beyond cattle and poultry.
Cases have been sporadically found in pigs, raising concerns among researchers as these animals can catch both human and bird strains of flu.
More than 400 non-bird wild animals in the US have been infected since May 2022, including red foxes, skunks, seals and raccoons.
Experts believe these animals may contract the virus after feeding on carcasses of birds that died from bird flu.
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Many experts consider H5N1 a top pandemic threat due to its widespread presence among animals and rapid mutations
GETTYWastewater surveillance has detected traces of the virus in 60 of more than 250 monitored sites across the country.
In California and Iowa, over 80 percent of samples have tested positive for the virus.
Although human-to-human transmission has not yet been observed, experts caution that mutations could raise the risk of it occurring.
The GVN is urging world governments to confront the H5N1 threat by strengthening surveillance and enforcing stricter biosecurity protocols.
Countries must prepare for the possibility of human-to-human spread to avoid chaos reminiscent of the early COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Peter Palese, a GVN director and world leader in influenza research, explains: "Initiatives should focus on enhancing biosecurity measures in agricultural settings and educating the public about safe handling of poultry products and potential risks associated with contact with infected animals."
Many experts consider H5N1 a top pandemic threat due to its widespread presence among animals and rapid mutations.
Since 2022, more than 168 million poultry in America have been lost or culled due to the outbreak
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Dr Marc Johnson, a virologist at the University of Missouri, recently stated: "This virus might not go pandemic, but it is really trying hard, and it sure is getting a lot of opportunities."
The Biden Administration previously awarded Moderna a $590million contract to develop an H5N1 bird flu vaccine.
However, reports suggest the new Trump Administration could withdraw this funding.
The White House Office of Pandemic Preparedness and Response has been left virtually unstaffed and unfunded since the change in administration.
Pandemic planning has been moved inside the National Security Council, which critics fear limits transparency.
The US already has approximately 20 million bird flu vaccines in its national stockpile, which officials say are 'well matched' to the H5N1 virus.
The country also has capacity to quickly produce 100 million more vaccines if necessary.
Supplies of antivirals such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) are available, which were used to treat the Louisiana patient.
