Dr. Leana Wen recently spoke about the lack of testing for bird flu and emphasized the importance of being proactive in making tests available for Americans. She highlighted the need for rapid tests and home tests to be readily accessible to farm workers, their families, and clinicians to prevent delays in identifying cases and their severity. The recent outbreak of bird flu in the U.S. has seen 61 reported human cases of H5 bird flu, with one severe case reported in Louisiana and another in British Columbia. Mutations in the H5N1 virus seem to have developed as the virus adapted to its host, making the virus more likely to bind to airway receptors.
Wen expressed concern that the number of reported H5N1 cases in the U.S. is likely an undercount due to insufficient testing. She urged the Biden administration to approve the H5N1 vaccine, which is already developed and contracted with manufacturers to produce nearly 5 million doses. The push for immediate vaccine authorization and increased testing is driven by fears that the Trump administration could potentially delay vaccines, which could lead to a catastrophic situation similar to the early stages of COVID-19. Wen mentioned concerns about some of President-elect Trump’s cabinet picks, particularly Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who has a history of spreading false information on vaccines and autism.
The CDC reported its first severe case of bird flu in the U.S. in a patient in Louisiana who was infected from a backyard poultry flock. The genetic changes in the H5N1 virus samples from the infected human were not present in samples from the poultry flock, suggesting that concerning mutations developed during the clinical course of human infection. Federal health officials highlighted that spread between close contacts is more likely when changes develop in the virus during human infection. Wen emphasized the need for immediate action to address the bird flu outbreak, including approval of the vaccine and ramping up testing to prevent further spread of the virus.
Wen raised concerns about the potential for the Trump administration to delay vaccines and reduce testing for bird flu. She stressed the importance of weighing the need for evidence and new research against the possibility of a catastrophic situation similar to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wen also expressed concerns about some of President-elect Trump’s cabinet picks, particularly Dr. Marty Makary for the FDA and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for Health and Human Services. While she described Makary as competent and willing to listen to science, she expressed apprehension about Kennedy’s history of anti-vaccine advocacy.
In conclusion, Dr. Leana Wen highlighted the importance of proactive testing and immediate approval of the H5N1 vaccine to address the bird flu outbreak effectively. She urged the Biden administration to take swift action to prevent delays in vaccine authorization that could potentially worsen the situation. The concern over the Trump administration potentially withholding vaccines and reducing testing for bird flu underlines the need for a robust and timely response to contain the virus. Wen emphasized the need for evidence-based decision-making and expressed apprehension about certain cabinet picks who may undermine efforts to address the bird flu outbreak.
