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Published: July 21, 2025
Read Time: 1.4 Mins
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In this episode of Thermometer HQ, Inside Bird Flu, Dr. Jay Varma and Dr. Jon Epstein examine the CDC’s recent decision to end its emergency response to bird flu (H5N1)—and whether that move puts public health at risk.
Despite no new human cases since February, the virus continues to circulate in dairy cows, cats, and wild animals across the U.S. Dr. Varma and Dr. Epstein explore the consequences of treating H5N1 as routine when:
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Animal infections are ongoing, with active cases in poultry and documented mammal-to-mammal transmission.
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Surveillance may be failing, especially among vulnerable populations like undocumented farmworkers who fear being tested.
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mRNA vaccine development was defunded, delaying pandemic preparedness despite the proven speed and safety of mRNA platforms.
The episode also touches on systemic blind spots—where both public health institutions and at-risk communities are pulling away from surveillance at the same time—making early detection of human outbreaks less likely.
Dr. Varma critiques CDC’s lack of public communication and contrasts it with the kind of robust emergency response he helped lead in past outbreaks. Dr. Epstein raises alarms about the slow shift back to outdated vaccine technology and the lost opportunity to prepare effectively.
Together, they offer a sobering analysis of what happens when public attention fades but the threat remains—and what it will take to stay ahead of the next possible pandemic.
