Bird Flu Is Spreading - And the USA Is Failing to Track It

Avian flu is now infecting humans across the U.S. At least 67 people have tested positive, and one person has died. The ones most at risk? Poultry and dairy workers - people in close contact with infected animals. But if the virus mutates, everyone could be at risk. 

Tracking this outbreak should be a priority, but the response is a mess. Testing is inconsistent, left to individual states with no clear federal oversight. Some states are actively looking for cases. Others? Not so much.  

No Clear Plan, Just Chaos  

The U.S. is tracking bird flu through wastewater testing, symptom-based testing, and random sampling of influenza A cases. But there's a glaring issue: not everyone who tests positive for the flu is checked for H5N1. In Iowa, a state dominated by factory farms, testing only happens if patients meet certain criteria. If a doctor doesn’t ask the right questions, cases slip through the cracks.  

California, where most human cases have been found, follows a similar pattern. Doctors are told to consider bird flu in patients with respiratory symptoms and recent exposure to infected animals or raw milk. That sounds responsible - except it assumes workers can access medical care in the first place.  

The Workers Most at Risk Are the Least Protected  

The humans most exposed to this virus - migrant and immigrant farmworkers - often don’t have access to healthcare. Many fear authority, worry about their immigration status, or simply don’t have time to see a doctor. If symptoms are mild, like a runny nose or conjunctivitis, they’re unlikely to get tested at all.  

So even when doctors do test for H5N1, they’re only seeing part of the picture. The real number of human cases could be much higher.  

Amy Liebman of the Migrant Clinicians Network says frontline workers need better education on bird flu, more personal protective equipment (PPE), and access to healthcare. But so far, there's little effort to make that happen.  

Trump’s Return Could Make Things Worse  

As Trump begins his second term, expect even less transparency and action. His first move? Silencing government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If history repeats itself, tracking bird flu will become even more difficult.  

During his last term, Trump forced meatpacking plants to stay open during the COVID-19 pandemic. The result? Nearly 60,000 workers got sick, and 269 died. He put profits over people then, and there’s no reason to think he’ll do any differently now. 

A proposed Occupational Safety and Health Administration rule could have provided stronger protections for workers against infectious diseases. But now, it’s in limbo - just when it’s needed the most. 

The Bottom Line  

This virus has pandemic potential. If it mutates to spread between humans, we’re in trouble. Right now, we’re failing to track it properly.  

The government should be stepping up, protecting workers, and ensuring consistent testing across all states. Instead, they’re stepping back. And as long as animal farming continues, so will the risk of deadly outbreaks.  

Ignoring this won’t make it go away. It just ensures the next pandemic catches us unprepared - again.