H5N1, which has been around for decades, was first observed infecting humans in 1997. But last March marked a new turning point: The U.S. reported its first confirmed bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle.
Even though federal officials have had ample time to stymie the spread, the last 10 months have seen the virus jump virtually unabated from state to state, infecting cattle herds, poultry, pigs and people.
Still, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched a containment effort that critics called slow and fragmented. Within a month, more than 30 dairy herds across eight states had tested positive for the virus.
Experts warn that we could be facing a devastating pandemic of COVID-19 proportions, at minimum, if the virus continues on its current trajectory.
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