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
