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Two former public health officials have raised concerns over the Biden administration’s handling of the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, demanding stronger federal measures to prevent the virus from mutating into a strain capable of widespread human transmission.
Some shit you should know before you read: Over the last month, the H5N1 bird flu outbreak has intensified, with cases emerging from poultry and cattle farms across several states, including Louisiana, California, and others in the Midwest. The virus, originally linked to infected wild birds, has spread to livestock, prompting growing concern over its potential to mutate into a strain that could more easily infect humans. In Louisiana, the first severe human case was reported, involving a patient exposed to sick birds, while California declared a state of emergency as the virus spread to dairy cows. Health officials have ramped up testing and surveillance efforts in affected states to monitor the virus’s spread and mitigate animal and human risks.
What’s going on: In an op-ed in the Washington Post, former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb and Luciana Borio, a former director for medical and biodefense preparedness policy at the National Security Council, expressed concerns about the Biden administration’s response to the ongoing H5N1 bird flu outbreak. They argued that federal efforts have been too slow and insufficient, leaving gaps in preparedness that could allow the virus to mutate into a more dangerous form. They wrote, “The Biden administration has been mishandling the outbreak in cattle for months, increasing the possibility of a dangerous, wider spread,” urging for a more urgent and coordinated response to prevent further transmission and protect public health.
The officials also criticized the delay in implementing vital measures, such as widespread testing of dairy herds and establishing a compensation program for farmers. They wrote, “Only in the past month has the Biden administration undertaken widespread testing of bulk stocks of raw milk to detect which dairy herds are infected,” noting that this delay hindered efforts to quarantine affected cattle and limit the spread of the virus.
Both Gottlieb and Borio also stressed the importance of compensating farmers early to mitigate financial burdens, stating that “a program to compensate dairy farms upon finding infected cattle wasn’t launched until this past summer — a crucial step to ensure that livestock owners aren’t saddled with financial hardship.” The pair warned that without quick action, the US could face a public health crisis that mirrors or surpasses the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This comes as the Biden administration ramps up efforts to combat the H5N1 bird flu outbreak, committing an additional $306 million to enhance pandemic preparedness and response. According to the administration, the funding will support hospital readiness, early-stage research into vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics, and increased testing of infected livestock. Federal health agencies have already spent $1.8 billion addressing the outbreak, with the Department of Agriculture focusing on controlling the virus in animals and the Department of Health and Human Services allocating resources to protect people.
