Bird flu warning signs are going in the wrong direction: What to know

The bird flu outbreak has taken concerning turns, with more than 60 human cases confirmed. Experts outlined four signs that the virus is going in the wrong direction.

The simmering threat of bird flu may be inching closer to boiling over.

This year has been marked by a series of concerning developments in the virus’ spread. Since April, at least 65 people have tested positive for the virus — the first U.S. cases other than a single infection in 2022. Dairy cow herds in 16 states have been infected this year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the country’s first severe bird flu infection on Wednesday, a critically ill patient in Louisiana. And California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency last week in response to rampant outbreaks in cows and poultry.

“The traffic light is changing from green to amber,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who studies infectious diseases. “So many signs are going in the wrong direction.”

No bird flu transmission between humans has been documented, and the CDC maintains that the immediate risk to public health is low. But scientists are increasingly worried, based on four key signals.

For one, the bird flu virus — known as H5N1 — has spread uncontrolled in animals, including cows frequently in contact with people. Additionally, detections in wastewater show the virus is leaving a wide-ranging imprint, and not just in farm animals.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/bird-flu-cases-spread-warning-signs-rcna185084

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