The world is watching the US deal with bird flu, and it is scary

Tulio de Oliveira Failure to control H5N1 among American livestock could have global consequences. As a virus scientist in South Africa, I’ve been watching with dread as H5N1 bird flu spreads among animals in the United States. The pathogen poses a serious pandemic threat and has been detected in more than 500 dairy herds in 15 states – which is probably an undercount.

And yet, the US response appears inadequate and slow, with too few genomic sequences of H5N1 cases in farm animals made publicly available for scientific review. Failure to control H5N1 among American livestock could have global consequences, and this demands urgent attention. The US has done little to reassure the world that it has the outbreak contained.



Already a subscriber? Log in Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month $9.90 $9.90/month No contract ST app access on 1 mobile device Subscribe now All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.

com Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards Spin the wheel now.