Richard Webby is hopeful the avian flu prevalence is not the new normal for the U.S. He shares the virus shows no sign of going away.
The bird populations haven’t seen viruses like this before, so in terms of their immune response, they’re all immunologically naïve to this influenza virus.” – Richard Webby
Amy Hagerman shared that this time we didn’t see virus circulation going down to zero in our wild bird population over the summer. Instead, the virus simmered through summer. Now we’re in fall and seeing a resurgence.
Source: NPR, December 2, 2022. Link. This version of the influenza virus doesn’t affect “broilers” — chickens raised for meat — as badly it does “layers” — table-egg laying hens — and turkeys.
Also see: Avian flu worst in history, Reuters, November 24, 2022. Link.