Bird Flu Cases Rise While CDC Remains Silent

Jan 31, 2025
By Farms.com

Lack of Federal Updates Leaves Researchers Uninformed

As the H5N1 bird flu outbreak continues to spread, infecting livestock and raising concerns about human transmission, a lack of updates from the CDC is leaving researchers and public health officials struggling to track the virus’s progression.

Currently, the outbreak is infection over 900 herds and doznes of people, with one reported fatality.Dr. Catherine Troisi, an epidemiology professor at UT Health Houston School of Public Health, has highlighted the uncertainty surrounding bird flu cases. “We have had one case in Texas, which was last March. I have not seen any since then. But of course, it’s always dependent on testing,” she said.

The primary source of human infections remains contact with infected cattle or poultry. So far, most human cases have been mild, with symptoms like conjunctivitis, but scientists worry the virus could evolve to spread more easily among people.

A lack of updated reports from the CDC makes it difficult for experts to track the virus’s progression. While existing information is still available on the CDC website, Troisi warns that gaps in reporting create uncertainty for public health planning.

The CDC has yet to confirm when updates will resume. The Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute remains a valuable source for ongoing updates at the state level.

Preventative Measures

To reduce the risk of infection, experts recommend -

Avoiding raw milk, as it may contain the virus.

Wearing a mask in crowded spaces, especially for high-risk individuals.

Monitoring symptoms if in contact with infected livestock or birds.

For more updates, visit your local health department’s website or check state-level epidemic institutes.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.