We are in the midst of the worst bird flu crisis on record. This pernicious virus has established footholds on every continent except Australia. In this episode we focus on wild birds and mammals to look at how the virus entered the US and how it has devastated animal populations across the planet. We’ll shed light on how US and international agencies work together to track and report the virus in birds, animals, and humans, and how recent US federal layoffs threaten to derail this complex system. 

How bird flu entered the US

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/avian-flu-newfoundland-labrador-1.6304817

https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nwhc/science/avian-influenza-surveillance

Caliendo V, Lewis NS, Pohlmann A, et al. Transatlanticspread of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 by wild birds from Europe toNorth America in 2021. Scientific reports. 2022; 12: 11729.

Bird flu in wild birds

Klaassen, M., Wille, M.The plight and role of wild birds in the current bird flu panzootic. NatEcol Evol 7, 1541–1542 (2023). 

https://www.ksnt.com/kansasoutdoors/kansas-biologist-estimates-14000-birds-have-fallen-ill-or-died-of-bird-flu/

Bird flu in wild mammals

https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-02-14/worst-avian-flu-crisis-ever-recorded-spreads-across-antarctica.html

Rimondi A, Vanstreels R,Olivera V, et al. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses fromMultispecies Outbreak, Argentina, August 2023. Emerging InfectiousDiseases. 2024;30(4):812-814. doi:10.3201/eid3004.231725.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/02/07/g-s1-46402/bird-flu-wild-animals-mammals-virus

Public databases reporting cases of avian fluin birds, animals and humans

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/wild-bird-strategic-plan.pdf

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks

https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/avian-timeline/2020s.html

https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/php/avian-flu-summary/chart-epi-curve-ah5n1.html

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/avian-influenza/latest-bird-flu-situation/hpai-dashboards

https://www.who.int/philippines/news/detail-global/30-03-2024-2023--outbreaks-of-avian-influenza

Federal layoffs impacting bird flu surveillance

https://www.npr.org/2025/03/05/nx-s1-5318687/usda-fired-federal-employees-probationary-osc-mspb

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/doge/usda-accidentally-fired-officials-bird-flu-rehire-rcna192716

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/16/trump-administration-firings-bird-flu-response-00204542

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/74/wr/mm7404a2.htm

https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/14/politics/probationary-federal-employees-agencies-firings-doge/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/21/politics/trump-executive-action-world-health-organization-withdrawal/index.html