A pandemic ‘unfolding in slow motion’

The spread of H5n1 to dairy herds in 12 us states signals a change that could bring it closer to becoming transmissible between humans. — aP

SCIENTISTS tracking the spread of bird flu are increasingly concerned that gaps in surveillance may keep them several steps behind a new pandemic, according to interviews with more than a dozen leading disease experts.

Many of them have been monitoring the new subtype of H5N1 avian flu in migratory birds since 2020. But the spread of the virus to 129 dairy herds in 12 US states signals a change that could bring it closer to becoming transmissible between humans.