Overview

• The CDC has confirmed 11 human cases of bird flu in the U.S. since 2022, all linked to exposure to infected animals.
• H5N1 has infected over 100 million chickens and spread to 13 states' dairy herds, raising fears of a wider outbreak.
• Experts are concerned about the virus's high mortality rate and the potential for it to mutate to spread more easily among humans.
• The U.S. government has allocated $176 million to develop a bird flu vaccine, and experts call for increased surveillance and testing.
• Researchers stress the need for better communication about the risks and uncertainties of H5N1 to prepare for potential future outbreaks.