Former CDC Director: ‘Just A Matter of Time’ Until Bird Flu Pandemic

Former CDC Director, Dr. Robert Redfield, warned about the imminent risk of a bird flu pandemic with high human mortality rates, stating that it’s a matter of when, not if, it will occur.

The avian flu, with mortality rates of 25-50% in humans, has been progressively increasing in bird populations since 2017, extending to mammals like cattle and infecting individuals.

“Unfortunately, bird flu when it does enter humans, has a significant mortality. Probably somewhere between 25-50 percent mortality so it’s going to get quite complicated,” Redfield said.

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. faced bird flu cases in chickens, leading to substantial losses.

The first human fatality was reported in a Mexican man, sparking concerns over a potential pandemic if the virus gains human-to-human transmission capability.

Redfield emphasized the inevitability of a bird flu pandemic as the virus evolves.

“I really do think it’s very likely that we will, at some time, it’s not a question of if, it’s more of a question of when we will have a bird flu pandemic,” Redfield said.

“Once the virus gains the ability to attach to the human receptor and then go human to human, that’s when you’re going to have the pandemic. And as I said, I think it’s just a matter of time.”