U.S. Faces Dual Bird Flu Strains as Experts Warn of Pandemic Risks

The H5N1 virus spreads to mammals, while the first U.S. H7N9 outbreak since 2017 is confirmed, raising concerns over food security and human health.

The H7N9 bird flu strain has been detected on a poultry farm in Mississippi, marking the first U.S. outbreak of this strain since 2017.
The H5N1 bird flu strain, which has spread globally, has now been found in mammals, including dairy cows, fueling concerns about its potential to infect humans.
The World Health Organization reports that H7N9 has a high human fatality rate globally but does not easily transmit between people.
Mass culling of birds in response to outbreaks has disrupted food supplies, contributed to record-high egg prices, and raised questions about the effectiveness of current containment strategies.
Experts are urging governments to strengthen biosecurity and surveillance as scientists warn that the virus's spread in mammals increases the chances of it evolving to infect humans.