Bird flu tests are hard to get. So how will we know when to sound the pandemic alarm?
Briefly

To become a pandemic, the H5N1 bird flu virus would need to spread from person to person. The best way to keep tabs on that possibility is by testing people.
Yet researchers agree that the number of people infected with bird flu is an undercount since the CDC has tested only about 40 individuals. This lack of testing prevents a comprehensive understanding of the virus's spread.
Limited availability of bird flu testing is attributed to red tape, billing complications, and insufficient investment, hindering the quick expansion of testing capabilities.
The current situation reflects a similar lack of readiness as seen with COVID-19, highlighting the necessity for the government to increase efforts in H5N1 bird flu testing to prevent devastating consequences.
Read at www.ocregister.com
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