Bird flu is an H5N1 influenza virus that primarily attacks and kills waterfowl and migratory birds, but which also is spreading through our domestic chicken population. Since we don’t have an adequate vaccine to give to chickens, when a flock is infected it is culled, meaning all the chickens are killed. That is part of the cause of high egg prices for the past six months or so.
Bird Flu Has Spread to Cows
Most important, the farm infection with chickens has spread to domestic cows since last year. And humans who handle these animals are getting infected as well. Although we as yet have no documented human-to-human cases of bird flu, one human has died from the bird flu. Biologically, there is a real risk that with wide-spread infection in dairy cows, we will see more human infections and potential deaths.
We also do not now have an effective vaccine for chickens against bird flu available in any quantity, though Moderna was granted CDC funds in January to start work on a “pandemic virus vaccine” for humans that would include bird flu. If animal to human transmission does become established, there is real risk of a serious US epidemic.
Don’t Forget About MPox
The Republic of Congo in Africa is a hotbed of MPox, which originated in monkeys and passed to humans, where there is now ready person-to-person spread by direct contact. The virus produces painful blisters, which can be widespread. Deaths occur partly from secondary infections. While there is an effective vaccine, it is in short supply. Infected people can easily bring the disease with them when they travel. While we have a relatively small number of cases here, that is not protection against much wider spread from travelers.
Measles Is Resurgent in Texas
There is an outbreak of measles in Texas with over 100 cases and now a death of one child. This is so unnecessary and was avoidable. We had eradicated measles in the US as of 2000. Well-reported lack of childhood immunizations is taking us back to the prevaccine world of the 1950’s and 60’s. Measles is extraordinarily contagious and likely will spread out of Texas.
Cutback of CDC and NIH Work
For both bird flu and MPox, and now measles, the Trump administration’s drastic cutbacks on CDC resources and international public health aid mean we may not get the robust scientific and pharmacological help fighting these diseases that we need and used to expect from CDC, NIH and other agencies.
Plus, known antivaxer Robert Kennedy Jr. as head of Health and Human Services hardly inspires confidence in a needed Federal response. I advise everyone to keep an ear tuned to the Texas measles outbreak as well as to the current state of bird flu and MPox. We have to hope for the best, since our public health and science resources have been partially dismantled.