By Ashely McGregor, United States Correspondent
Washington D.C.: A growing sense of unease is gripping health experts across the United States as the avian influenza outbreak intensifies, compounded by what many perceive as a chaotic and fragmented response from the Trump administration. Concerns are mounting that crucial information is being suppressed, and vital communication channels have been disrupted, hindering efforts to contain the rapidly spreading virus.
A report by Reuters, citing anonymous sources within federal agencies, paints a picture of confusion and paralysis. Since President Trump’s inauguration in January, key agencies tasked with monitoring and responding to the epidemic, namely the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), have reportedly curtailed their usual transparency.
Weekly reports on bird flu transmission and surveillance, typically shared with state officials and health experts, have been withheld, and scheduled congressional briefings have been abruptly cancelled. This lack of communication, described by sources as “extraordinary,” is creating a vacuum of information at a critical juncture.
“It’s just extraordinary, frankly, that we would slow down or delay or impede that kind of communication,” stated Arthur Reingold, an epidemiology professor at the University of California at Berkeley, speaking to Reuters.
The frustration is palpable among state officials and veterinarians on the front lines. Keith Poulsen, director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, expressed concern that the confusion surrounding “who can say what or anything” is complicating matters at a time when swift and decisive action is paramount.
Adding to the complexity is the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). This move, according to sources, is hampering the vital exchange of data that allows for the tracking of outbreaks and viral strains in other countries.
Meanwhile, fears persist that the virus could mutate, enabling human-to-human transmission, despite reassurances from the CDC that the risk to the general public remains low. The increasing number of infections in livestock and humans, including a recent fatality, has amplified these concerns.
Since April 2024, approximately 70 people have contracted bird flu in the US, and a staggering 159 million birds have been culled since the outbreak began in 2022. The impact on the poultry industry has been severe, with egg prices soaring to record highs.
The discovery of a second strain of bird flu in dairy cattle earlier this month has further heightened anxieties. Shauna Voss, interim assistant director of the California Board of Animal Health, reported that the board has been unable to obtain answers from the USDA regarding a crucial programme to increase turkey testing.
The planned freezing of federal funding by the Trump administration has further exacerbated the situation, contributing to a sense of chaos and uncertainty. “The certainly chaotic messaging can trickle down to the state level and ultimately impact the farmers who produce our food,” Voss warned.
As the avian influenza outbreak continues to spread, the perceived disruption to the US response under the Trump administration is raising serious concerns about the country’s ability to effectively contain the virus and protect public health.
