Season 12 • Episode 921

921 - Is Bird Flu Gone for Good?

Jul 21, 2025

15:11

COVID-19 Global Health Environmental Health Infectious Disease Emerging Infections Public Health

Episode Description

About this episode:

In early July, the CDC deactivated the United States' H5N1 emergency response, citing lowered rates of infection among animals and humans. But fewer cases might not indicate an end to the years-long emergency. In this episode: Dr. Erin Sorrell of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security details the timeline of the virus, its impacts on American farmers, and how to prepare for the return of migratory birds later this year.

Guest:

Dr. Erin Sorrell, PhD, MSc, is an associate professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health Department of Environmental Health and Engineering and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security.

Host:

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

Show links and related content:

As bird flu evolves, keeping it out of farm flocks is getting harder—ScienceNews
RFK's proposal to let bird flu spread through poultry could set us up for a pandemic, experts warn—Live Science
Bird Flu Is Escalating—Public Health On Call (January 2025)

Transcript information:

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