Former CDC Director Robert Redfield warned in an interview with NewsNation that a bird flu pandemic among humans is inevitable and could be extremely lethal. Redfield, who led the CDC from 2018 to 2021, expressed concern after a 59-year-old man in Mexico died from a bird flu-related illness. He stated that it is not a matter of if a pandemic will occur, but rather when it will happen. The virus has been found in a variety of mammals, increasing the chances of a deadly outbreak that could kill 25 to 50 percent of those infected.
The World Health Organization reported that the 59-year-old man in Mexico who died from the virus had no known contact with poultry or other animals. The strain he had, H5N2, had never been found in humans before. The current bird flu strain affecting dairy cattle, H5N1, has given mild symptoms to three U.S. farmworkers. Since its discovery in 1996, H5N1 has infected around 900 people globally with a mortality rate of about 50 percent. Experts are concerned about the potential for the virus to rapidly evolve and spread among humans, similar to what happened with COVID-19.
Louise Moncla, an avian flu researcher and assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania, expressed worries about the possible progression of the bird flu virus. She questioned whether the current cases are the beginning of a larger outbreak that could spiral out of control. The unpredictability of viral spillover events and the ability for viruses to adapt to human hosts pose significant challenges for public health officials and researchers in mitigating the spread of potential pandemics.
CDC Principal Deputy Director Nirav Shah emphasized the risk of the bird flu virus evolving into something of international concern. He noted the rapid spread of viruses globally before public health systems had a chance to react, highlighting the need for preparedness and vigilance. In 2021, 36 people in China were diagnosed with HPAI H5N6, and 18 of them died. Bird flu typically spreads among birds and animals but can infect humans through exposure to bodily secretions, such as saliva or feces.
Scientists have not yet observed the bird flu virus adapting to spread easily from human to human, but Redfield warned that once this adaptation occurs, a pandemic is likely to follow. The overall case-fatality rate for COVID-19 before the availability of vaccines was 1.7%, according to CDC data. The potential for a highly lethal bird flu pandemic raises concerns about the impact on global public health systems and the need for proactive measures to prevent or mitigate such an event. Vigilance and collaboration among researchers, public health officials, and international organizations are essential in monitoring and responding to emerging infectious diseases.
