Global health leader critiques ineptitude of U.S. response to bird flu outbreak

Global health leader Seth Berkley criticized the U.S. response to the bird flu outbreak among dairy cattle, highlighting the lack of surveillance, tracking of infections, and vaccine readiness. Berkley expressed concerns about the country's preparedness for another pandemic, citing the challenges faced in dealing with H5N1 bird flu. He emphasized the importance of monitoring pathogens and enhancing surveillance systems to prevent potential spread among humans. Berkley's remarks echoed those of other scientists who have raised issues about the inadequate tracking of the virus and limited information sharing. Despite the current low risk of human infection, there are fears that the virus could evolve to become more transmissible to people. Berkley stressed the need for political will and funding to address these gaps in preparedness and surveillance systems to effectively tackle emerging infectious diseases.