United States: A United Nations food agency declared the H5N1 bird flu virus spreading pattern an unparalleled food safety threat that demands worldwide synchronized action.
During its Monday briefing, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations expressed major concerns regarding the worldwide poultry mortality of hundreds of millions of birds and rising mammalian spillover events, as reported by The Hills.
Bird Flu’s Expanding Reach
The agency observed bird flu’s geographical dispersion had changed significantly within the past four years because 300 different wild bird species entered the infection zone starting in 2021.
The disease is “leading to serious impacts on food security and food supply in countries, including loss of valuable nutrition, rural jobs, and income, shocks to local economies, and of course increasing costs to consumers,” according to FAO Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi, who called the spread unprecedented.
Bird Flu’s Mammal Leap: The Next Plague?
— Brain Snacks-Learn with laughter!!! (@NgChinSiang2) March 19, 2025
Imagine a virus hopping from birds to cows, pigs, even us—H5N1’s doing just that. The UN’s freaking out, saying this avian flu’s “unprecedented” mammal spread could cook up a pandemic stew. Cases popped up in U.S. dairy herds, with 13… pic.twitter.com/vOIebUkYGR
Calls for a Coordinated Global Response
FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol called for a coordinated global response: “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. By working together, we can reduce the impact of avian influenza and protect both animal and human health – locally and globally.”
The agency requested nations to boost their bird flu surveillance along with reporting programs and demanded improved laboratory capacities and preparedness planning with vaccination options and biosecurity measures for risk management.
Bird Flu’s Impact on the U.S.
The CDC reports that the U.S. currently deals with 70 bird flu cases, with 41 active dairy operations and 24 egg-producing farms needing culling operations. The present evidence shows that bird flu cannot be passed from person to person, so the disease poses minimal risk to society.
The Department of Agriculture introduced an investment plan worth $1 billion to combat bird flu while reducing egg prices during the previous month.
Economic Ripple Effect and Price Concerns
The Mississippi commercial bird flock reported an unusual strain of highly pathogenic bird flu that had not appeared in the U.S. since 2017. No direct correlation exists between this outbreak and the present H5N1 epidemic, as reported by The Hills.
The disease has led to rising egg prices, which caused restaurants to add fees for all their egg-related menu items. Sources indicate the Justice Department has started probing major egg producers about their potential price manipulation through the current bird flu situation.