The primary danger of bird flu lies in government misinformation
A new strain of bird flu is rapidly spreading. It originated in Asia in 2020, reached Canada in 2021, and then the US in the following year, resulting in the deaths of tens of millions of birds and thousands of sea mammals. As of now, bird flu, with a reported human mortality rate of 50%, has only been transmitted from animals to humans.
With bird flu DNA detected in 20% of all milk sold in the United States, there is concern that if a mutation occurs, human-to-human transmission could become possible.
Bird flu is not the only health threat at the moment. Monkeypox has resurfaced, causing havoc in the Democratic Republic of Congo with a strain deadlier than the previous outbreak in 2022.
While health authorities are focused on these viruses, Americans should be wary of our health authorities. If past trends continue, the response to a new pandemic could potentially be more harmful than the virus itself.
The issue starts with the authorities often exaggerating risks. During the 2009 swine flu pandemic, health officials predicted up to 120 million deaths. However, the pandemic ended shortly after it began, with vaccine stockpiles expiring and the death count resembling mild seasonal influenza.
When Covid emerged a decade later, the situation worsened. Media portrayed scenes of devastation, creating fear among Americans. This fear was evident in surveys, showing that the perceived risk of death from COVID-19 was as high as 25%. Despite real mortality rates being less than 1%, there was a lack of accurate information.
Even when accurate information was shared, individuals like Donald Trump, who mentioned the mortality rate being a fraction of 1%, were criticized for spreading misinformation. This led to ongoing public belief in a high death rate, resulting in lockdowns and other drastic measures.
Subsequent events, such as vaccine mandates, misinformation, and lack of trust in public health agencies, further complicated the situation. The example of the monkeypox outbreak in 2022 highlighted the mishandling of information and response strategies, leading to preventable cases.
Bird flu is now a growing concern, with increased levels of influenza A detected in US wastewater. Despite the elevated levels, they remain lower than normal. Misrepresentation of data for sensationalism remains a pervasive issue.
Recent reports of a second case of dairy-linked bird flu in Michigan and progress in mRNA bird flu vaccine development indicate potential financial gains. The stock price of Moderna, a pioneer in mRNA vaccines, has soared as a result.
Kevin Bass is a scientist and author. X: @kevinnbass
