(Image via thefulcrum.us)

Staff Writer: Emma Bowser

Email: ebowser@umassd.edu 

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1 bird flu) is sweeping across the U.S. this year with significant effects. According to the CDC, more than 166,000,000 wild aquatic birds and domesticated poultry have been affected since January 2022.

Several states and counties have been affected, and 1,603 outbreaks have been reported.

One person has died out of 70 confirmed H5N1 cases, and even though these are small numbers, it’s still very concerning because this is the first confirmed death in the U.S.

Given that the virus cannot spread from person to person, the current public health risk to humans is relatively low. Usually, when a person contracts H5N1, it’s because they have come into contact with sick animals or contaminated waste.

Infected birds can shed avian influenza A viruses in their saliva, nasal secretions, and feces. Susceptible birds become infected when they have contact with the virus, as it is shed by infected birds. 

They can also become infected through contact with surfaces that are contaminated with virus from infected birds.

The disease can also be contracted and spread by other species, such as cows, goats, cats, dogs, and even a variety of wild animals. These animals typically contract the disease from living near sick birds or eating sick birds.

In December 2023, H5N1 virus infections were reported for the first time in mammals in both polar regions: an infected polar bear, which died in Alaska, and in elephant and fur seals in the Antarctic.

Some domesticated cats have contracted the disease because they ate raw pet food containing contaminated poultry. Northwest Naturals has voluntarily recalled one batch of raw pet food after the contamination was discovered.

The Portland, Oregon-based company’s recall affects products with “best if used by” dates of May 21, 2026, and June 23, 2026. 

The contaminated pet food was distributed in multiple states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington, as well as in British Columbia, Canada.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has also issued a warning about Monarch Raw Pet Food because four cats contracted H5N1 shortly after consuming the company’s product.

In addition to this, a cat in New Jersey was euthanized because it had contracted H5N1. An investigation to find the reason why the cat contracted the disease is currently underway, and officials say they suspect the animal was infected through contact with wild birds.

This disease is deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of days, and there is no cure. The current recommended treatment method is the depopulation of all birds that have contracted the disease or been exposed to it.

Crescent Duck Farm on Long Island had to cull 100,000 ducks because of a bird flu outbreak. This farm is the last commercial duck farm in the area and has been operating since 1908.

Normally, Crescent Duck Farm sells nearly a million ducks a year to distributors before going to restaurants, but now it will take at least 1.5 years to fully replenish the farm’s livestock and get back to business.

Doug Corwin, the owner of the farm and a father of three children, now has no income and barely any staff to run the barns because he had to lay off almost every employee.

A fundraiser was held on February 28th to help the workers of the farm get back on their feet and featured nine top chefs at chef-led food stations, local cocktails, wines, an auction, and donation opportunities with all of the proceeds going directly to Cresent’s displaced workers.

They also have a GoFundMe to which the general public can donate and have raised $27,000.

Seggond Chance Farm in Cranberry has also faced the significant effects of H5N1. The farm is a registered nonprofit that is a retirement facility, not open to the public, typically home to about 400 misfit birds, mostly domestic chickens, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowl, and about 200 visiting wild ducks.

The only animals that continue to live at the farm are pigs, goats, alpacas, emus, rheas, and a sheep. Every other animal had to be put down because it either contracted H5N1 or was exposed to it.

The farm’s owner, Mia Prensky, made the call herself, contacting the state Department of Agriculture’s hotline to inform them that H5N1 had been discovered on her farm.

Prensky said, “It’s all I could do to protect other wildlife, my employees and neighbors, knowing that the bird flu is everywhere. The only way to mitigate the local threat is we have to end their suffering to make things safe for the rest of us.”

The farm is facing a 120-day quarantine and will not take in any new birds for at least a year to avoid putting the remaining animals at risk.

However, there is some good news. 

There are currently three licensed H5N1 vaccines, and more vaccines are being developed. These vaccines are produced by GSK (ID Biomedical Corporation of Quebec), CSL Seqirus (Seqirus, Inc.), and Sanofi (Sanofi Pasteur Inc.). 

GSK and Sanofi use eggs in their manufacturing process, while CSL Seqirus uses a cell culture instead. 

The main concern with GSK and Sanofi’s vaccines is the fact that they require eggs to be produced, and the US is currently experiencing an egg shortage.

Unfortunately, none of these vaccines are commercially available, though the U.S. government has some supplies in the National Pre-pandemic Influenza Vaccine Stockpile, and Finland and Canada’s governments have purchased doses of the vaccines.

The future of H5N1 vaccines is still uncertain because the Department of Health and Human Services is reviewing a contract that is designed to help Moderna develop and test the safety and efficacy of vaccines to protect against five subtypes of influenza that could prompt pandemics, including H5N1.

The Department of Health and Human Services has not disclosed a specific reason for the review, but scientists believe that this contract is important to further epidemic and pandemic research.

A new biosensor has also been developed to help detect outbreaks of H5N1 and has been said to be the first of its kind.

The current version takes only five minutes to detect airborne viruses and bacteria, while previous versions required ten hours or more. It also analyses the concentration of the particles detected.

While this biosensor detects H5N1 specifically, it could be adapted to detect other diseases and be scaled up for commercialization. 

However, scientists and farmers aren’t the only ones making changes due to H5N1. Many Americans have decided to try egg-free or vegan lifestyles in response to the egg shortage. 

Food blogs are compiling egg-free recipes and lists of egg alternatives, such as applesauce, sour cream, flaxseed powder, and commercial egg replacer. People who are already vegan or have egg allergies are sharing their tips and hacks for an egg-free lifestyle. 

Katherine Stinson says, “millions of Americans are now in a panic over the price of eggs, many people like me have been living without them for decades — and it’s not as difficult as you may think, especially in 2025.”

Another alternative to purchasing eggs at the store is collecting them from your own hens. While some people don’t think it’s worth the effort to keep your own chickens, others are putting measures in place to protect their birds or are learning how to raise chickens for the first time.

Homeowner’s Associations can make the process of setting up a coop and relocating your birds to their new home a bit difficult, but after you’ve done all your paperwork, you’re pretty much good to go.

Chris Banta, the creator of The Chicken Petition, says, “Chickens aren’t really cows, they’re not pigs, they’re not these big lumbering animals that are going to destroy the neighborhood. When you have good regulations around it, such as only hens, they’re quiet, they’re not a big nuisance.”

The main issue people face is the sudden increase in demand for chicks and young hens. Some breeders and businesses are finding it difficult to keep up with consumers and wonder if they are selling birds to people who won’t be able to care for them in the long term.

While some people may find this a great way to get into a new hobby and avoid buying eggs from the grocery store, it’s always a good idea to really think it over before you make a decision.