Bird Flu: Emergence, Dangers, and Preventive Measures

In the United States in January 2025 alone, approximately 20 million commercially-raised birds, mostly egg-laying hens, were affected by the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). These numbers are staggering yet barely scratch the surface of a potentially larger threat looming over the country. If action is not taken now, the next pandemic could be far deadlier than the 1918 influenza and COVID-19.   What Was the 1918 Influenza? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “The 1918 influenza pandemic killed more people in less time than any other disease before or since”; it was the