Virologists Alarmed by Spread of Bird Flu Among US Dairy Cows and Humans

The H5N1 virus, traditionally found in birds, is now infecting cattle and raising concerns of a potential human pandemic.

Bird flu has spread to dairy cows in the US, with 14 human cases reported since March 2024.
The virus has already caused the deaths of millions of birds and tens of thousands of marine and land mammals.
Researchers are investigating a mysterious human case in Missouri with no known animal contact, raising fears of human-to-human transmission.
Current data gaps and inconsistent testing among states hinder effective tracking and containment of the virus.
Experts warn that the virus's continued mutation and spread among mammals could increase the risk of a human pandemic.