Syracuse Sun

The H5N1 virus, commonly referred to as bird flu, is currently under scrutiny for its role in increasing egg prices and causing health issues. The USDA reports that nearly 11 million birds have been affected by this highly pathogenic avian influenza since mid-December. A recent case involved the death of a man in Louisiana and infections among more than 60 workers who had close contact with infected dairy cattle or poultry.

Robert Wilson, an associate professor at Syracuse University’s Geography and the Environment Department, has expressed concern over the transmission of the virus from animals to humans. He stated, “This month, a man in Louisiana died from bird flu (H5N1), which he probably got from exposure to wild birds or chickens in his backyard. And in recent months dairy workers have been sickened by the virus."

Wilson emphasized that while H5N1 is not spreading between people yet, its continued transmission from animals to humans remains "very worrisome." He highlighted how the U.S. raises billions of animals annually and how quickly the virus has spread among chickens, pigs, and dairy cows. He noted that “H5N1 has infected many of these birds," leading producers to cull them to limit viral spread.

Wilson pointed out that factory-like conditions where animals are raised contribute significantly to virus transmission risks. He said, “In such cramped quarters, viruses can spread easily among the animals and increase the chance of a zoonotic spillover of H5N1 from animals to humans.”

He also acknowledged concerns raised by animal rights activists regarding industrial agriculture practices: "We have created incubators for new pathogens while detaining animals in spaces that make outbreaks nearly inevitable."

Wilson concluded with a call for change: “To protect ourselves, we need to alter the way we raise animals in our modern food system.”

For further information or interviews with Professor Wilson, contact Daryl Lovell at Syracuse University's Division of Communications.