The H5N1 bird flu outbreak in the United States has reached alarming levels, affecting nearly 167 million birds and infecting 70 people since 2022. With spring migration underway, infected birds are making their way north, raising concerns among scientists monitoring the virus.
In Canada, recent cases in a snow goose near Montreal, a great horned owl in Ontario, and a Canada goose in British Columbia highlight the growing spread of H5N1. Experts are intensifying surveillance efforts as this winter saw an unprecedented number of outbreaks, according to Dr. Manon Racicot, a veterinary epidemiologist with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
“Now that the birds are coming back north for the migration, we don’t really know what’s coming to us. Will the birds still be infected? Will they be shedding the virus in the environment in Canada?” Racicot stated.
Adding to concerns, another deadly strain, H7N9, has surfaced at a Mississippi poultry farm—the first U.S. case since 2017. H7N9 has a 40% fatality rate in humans and has been responsible for severe outbreaks since 2013. While authorities have culled infected birds and imposed quarantines, the potential for further spread remains.
H5N1 has also jumped to mammals, with infected seals, cats, and dogs recorded. In the U.S., the virus is ravaging dairy cow herds, with 989 affected across 17 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though human transmission remains limited, a peer-reviewed study in Science warns that the strain infecting cows is just one mutation away from easier human-to-human spread.
H5N1 has already proven deadly in humans. In January, a Louisiana senior became the first U.S. fatality linked to the virus. Canada’s only confirmed case occurred in November, when a British Columbia teenager was hospitalized for two months. Genetic analyses suggest the virus is evolving to better infect human respiratory cells, prompting heightened concerns among health officials.
Dr. Danuta Skowronski of the B.C. Centre for Disease Control stressed the urgency of global cooperation. “Quite frankly, a single case of avian influenza is very concerning because we do not want that virus to adapt to humans. We all have a responsibility to shut that down as rapidly as possible to contain it.”
Meanwhile, U.S. scientists are facing challenges. The Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) and cut funding for key agencies like the National Institutes of Health has disrupted information-sharing. Avian flu expert Ian Brown of the U.K.’s Pirbright Institute warns that reduced collaboration could hinder global efforts to control the virus.
“There are early signs that the interaction we’ve relied on for many years may now be compromised,” Brown said. Further complicating matters, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been scrambling to rehire bird flu response workers mistakenly laid off in a federal workforce overhaul. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus confirmed that funding cuts are already impacting global monitoring efforts.
Despite these setbacks, Canadian health officials remain in close contact with their American counterparts, particularly regarding human cases. Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, emphasized the importance of vigilance. “Public health at every level is trying to be very vigilant about cases in different populations, and we are sharing information on an ongoing basis.”
On the animal health front, Canada is working alongside U.S. agencies to monitor migratory flyways and track bird flu mutations. British Columbia health teams are also maintaining strong ties with Washington, Oregon, and Alaska to coordinate efforts. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry underscored the importance of these relationships in managing cross-border health risks.
Canadian dairy farms are also under scrutiny. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been testing raw milk samples at processing plants, with all tests returning negative as of February 28. However, scientists stress the need for continued surveillance, especially as bird flu strains mutate.
Dr. Linda Hoang of the B.C. Centre for Disease Control noted that lessons from COVID-19 are informing Canada’s response. “We’ve learned a lot about tools that public health can use to make their decisions.” Researchers are tracking mutations, developing antibody tests, and studying transmission patterns to prepare for potential human outbreaks.
As the virus spreads among wildlife, livestock, and potentially humans, experts agree: global cooperation and proactive monitoring are essential to preventing another pandemic.
Source: Swifteradio.com
