Four careers over 50+ years. USMC, engineering, consulting, education. Past twenty years have focused on helping leaders become and remain relevant during times of change.
MindPrep 291 - H5N1 (aka, Bird Flu) Foresight?
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Reader, Foresight and the lack of it has been on my mind. Here's a short piece about "news" that has almost become background noise. Leaders should be paying more attention. FactsAccording to the CDC, as of February 21, 2025, the ongoing H5N1 avian influenza outbreak has led to the culling of approximately 162.8 million poultry in the United States. This extensive loss has significantly disrupted the egg industry, resulting in soaring prices and supply shortages. In January 2025 alone, over 20 million egg-laying chickens were lost, contributing to record-high egg prices. The outbreak has also affected other poultry sectors. For instance, Crescent Duck Farm, Long Island's last duck farm, was compelled to euthanize nearly 100,000 ducks due to an H5N1 outbreak. In August 2024, H5N1 infections were detected in dairy cows in California, leading to significant concerns within the agricultural sector. Reports have emerged of domestic cats contracting H5N1, raising questions about further interspecies transmission and potential risks to pet owners. Since 2024, the U.S. has confirmed 66 human H5N1 cases, primarily among poultry and dairy farm workers. In January 2025, Louisiana reported the first U.S. death attributed to H5N1. According to a 2/17/25 Wall Street Journal article, “Bird flu is here to stay. The H5N1 avian influenza is proliferating among U.S. cows and there are now two strains circulating among mammals and birds.” Foresight?We know that viruses mutate. We know that viruses can have zoonotic capabilities. Is an epidemic probable, plausible, or possible? We don’t know. But how do we get ready for the inevitable evolution of H5N1? It's here. It's evolving. It's not going away. Well, as of Feb. 19, around 5,200 employees at the CDC and the National Institutes of Health have been let go in the name of “efficiency.” DOGE foresight? I think not. My opinion is that the Department of Government Efficiency needs to look into the future. It’s easy to fire people, it’s hard to improve an organization and stop an epidemic once it starts. |
Bill @ MindPrep
Four careers over 50+ years. USMC, engineering, consulting, education. Past twenty years have focused on helping leaders become and remain relevant during times of change.
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