
(5MinNewsBreak.com) – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s urgent call for H5N1 testing in hospitals raises alarming questions about the possibility of spreading and the government’s preparedness for a potential bird flu pandemic.
As millions of Americans battle the seasonal flu, health officials are scrambling to identify a potentially deadlier threat.
The current flu season has already infected over 9 million people, with more than 100,000 hospitalizations.
Now, the CDC is pushing hospitals to test patients with influenza A for H5N1, commonly known as bird flu, within 24 hours of admission.
In the past year, there have been significant animal-to-human transmissions of bird flu, with 67 human cases confirmed across 10 states since March 2024.
While most cases have been mild, at least one severe case has resulted in death. The CDC maintains that the risk to the general public remains low, but their actions suggest otherwise.
The national influenza surveillance system has found only 0.004% of samples positive for bird flu.
However, most subtyping is done by sending samples to public health labs, which can delay results.
This inefficient process raises concerns about the government’s ability to respond quickly to a potential outbreak.
Meanwhile, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched the National Milk Testing Strategy to monitor bird flu spread in dairy cattle.
Bird flu has been confirmed in 708 dairy herds across 16 states, but not in Wisconsin. The spread of this virus among livestock could have devastating consequences for American farmers and our food supply.
In a move that should raise eyebrows, the USDA and HHS are providing $211 million to enhance mRNA platform capabilities for vaccine development. They claim this funding aims to improve the U.S. response to emerging infectious diseases like avian flu.
The government is touting mRNA technology as a faster and more adaptable tool for vaccine development.
Yet, many Americans remain skeptical of this relatively new technology, especially given the controversies surrounding the COVID-19 vaccines.
As hospitals heed the CDC’s call for more rigorous testing of influenza A patients, the path forward demands increased cooperation and resource allocation to safely navigate this turbulent flu season and safeguard public health.
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