Health experts are raising alarms as the H5N1 bird flu virus spreads rapidly across US dairy farms. Since March 2024, the outbreak has affected over 1,000 dairy herds nationwide, leading to more than 70 human infections and at least one confirmed death.

The Global Virus Network (GVN) warns that the virus's continued presence in mammals increases the risk of mutations that could enable human-to-human transmission. They emphasize the urgency of enhanced surveillance, standardized testing, and vaccination strategies for both animals and farmworkers. ...esponse measures." ...

Despite the outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains low. However, they stress the importance of precautions, especially for those in close contact with infected animals.

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