Madeline Halpert
BBC News, New York
For Brian Kreher, a fourth-generation farmer in the small town of Clarence, New York, the latest outbreak of avian influenza has resulted in many sleepless nights. Despite rigorous safety measures, his 18-acre farm remains one of the fortunate ones, having not lost any birds to the virus that has devastated poultry farms across the United States.
The outbreak has forced Kreher to make difficult decisions, such as whether to accept a new batch of baby chicks from a hatchery near a virus hotspot in Pennsylvania. Without new chicks, he faces the prospect of having no chickens to replace those that die or become ill.
"I had no choice," Kreher told the BBC. "It was either accept those baby chicks, or over the next year, we slowly exit farming." He emphasized that egg farmers are "in the fight of our lives and we are losing."
While the avian flu, or H5N1, has circulated among American poultry flocks for years, the outbreak beginning in 2022 has wreaked havoc on farms, killing over 156 million birds and causing egg prices to skyrocket. The virus also gained a foothold among dairy cows last year, and recently, a different strain associated with severe human infections was found in cattle.
The worsening outbreak coincides with sweeping cuts to government staffing and research funding under President Donald Trump's administration. Public health experts warn that these cuts threaten the country's ability to respond to potential pandemics, including bird flu.
Recently, the USDA informed the BBC that it had dismissed several officials working on the bird flu response, only to attempt to rehire them days later. Additionally, the administration has promised significant funding cuts to the National Institutes of Health, potentially hindering vital virus research.
Although the risk to most Americans remains low, the virus continues to evolve, raising concerns among scientists. Andrew Pekosz, a molecular biology professor at Johns Hopkins University, notes that the virus's persistence in dairy cows allows more opportunities for evolution, posing a potential threat to humans.
The avian flu infected cattle for the first time in the U.S. last year, resulting in nearly 1,000 confirmed cases across 17 states. There have also been 68 confirmed cases among humans, primarily those in close contact with animals.
In response to the crisis, Trump officials are formulating a new plan that emphasizes more safety precautions and vaccines, moving away from culling infected flocks. Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, mentioned working on a strategy with newly confirmed USDA leader Brooke Rollins to combat the virus with biosecurity and medication.
Poultry farmer Christian Alexandre, who experienced the devastation of a bird flu outbreak in 2022, expressed skepticism about replacing culling with vaccinations and other precautions. However, he acknowledged the need for new approaches to address the crisis.
Public health experts have been critical of the U.S. government's response to bird flu, arguing that communication and surveillance efforts have been inadequate. The CDC has reportedly withheld weekly reports on bird flu and canceled briefings with lawmakers and state health officials.
Despite these challenges, Ms. Simoneau sees a positive development in the appointment of Gerald Parker, a bird flu expert, to lead the White House's Pandemic Office. However, she warns that wide-ranging cuts and the decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization could hinder efforts to respond to H5N1.
As the threat of avian flu looms, Simoneau emphasizes the importance of maintaining vigilance and communication to effectively address potential health crises.
