Bird Flu Pandemic ‘Very Likely’, Warns Former CDC Director

Former CDC Director Robert Redfield has warned that a bird flu pandemic is "very likely" to be the next human pandemic, with a mortality rate of up to 50 percent. Redfield stated that it's not a question of if, but when a bird flu pandemic will occur, citing previous outbreaks with high mortality rates. The CDC, under Redfield's leadership, is concerned that every time bird flu jumps to a new species, it has the potential to mutate into a form that can spread between humans, leading to a pandemic.

Recently, bird flu has spread among cow herds in the US, with officials warning that humans are likely contributing to the transmission of the disease between animals. The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of the virus has been found in dairy cows across the country, with humans suspected of aiding in its spread between farms. Cases of bird flu have even spilled back over to farmed birds, with some farm workers becoming infected and recovering. Additionally, other strains of the virus, such as H5N2, have caused human fatalities, indicating the urgent need for preparedness against potential bird flu pandemics.