Bird flu’s comeback raises fears about readiness

AXIOS October 27, 2025
Tina Reed

Migratory birds are driving up avian flu cases across the country, reviving concerns about U.S. readiness to respond to outbreaks, especially during the government shutdown.

Why it matters: The most immediate concern is how the spread of the disease in commercial poultry flocks could drive up food prices.

• But the virus is continuing to evolve and spill over to other species, fueling fears of human-to-human transmissions and a possible pandemic.
• “It’s happening pretty fast and doesn’t seem to be slowing down and I’m really very unclear about what the U.S.’s approach is going to be,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization at the University of Saskatchewan.

Driving the news: Influenza was found...

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