Boston researcher and physician says we’re at ‘DEFCON 3’ for bird flu. Here’s what that means.
Public health experts are urging vigilance amid recent reports of severe bird flu cases in two North American patients.

This colorized electron microscope image released by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases on March 26, 2024, shows avian influenza A H5N1 virus particles (yellow), grown in Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells (blue). (CDC/NIAID via AP, File)
By Abby Patkinl

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Runny noses and queasy guts aren’t the only concerns this cold and flu season; public health experts are urging vigilance amid recent reports of severe cases of bird flu in two North American patients.

The ominous news of severe avian influenza, or H5N1, in a Louisiana patient and a Canadian teenager was enough for Dr. Jeremy Faust, a public health researcher and emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, to raise his threat assessment.

“All told, I think a severe case of H5N1 coming on the cusp of the forthcoming peak of flu season merits an increase in our threat assessment of the overall situation,” Faust wrote in his “Inside Medicine” newsletter Tuesday. “I’d say we are now at the equivalent of DEFCON 3 with H5N1.”



For the uninitiated, DEFCON 1 is considered the highest threat level — Faust offered New York City in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic as a comparison. DEFCON 3, per Military.com, is “generally seen as a standby level of alert.”

“Nobody knows what will happen next. Are we on the precipice of another horrible pandemic? Or will we dodge a bullet?” Faust wrote, adding, “What is undeniable is that our current circumstance is akin to a game of Russian Roulette — and there have never been more bullets in the chamber.”

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Watch: Could bird flu be the next human pandemic?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 66 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the United States so far during the 2024 outbreak. The U.S. saw its first reported dairy cow infections in late March and marked its first reported human case on April 1, according to the CDC.

Responding to...and adding to this could save lives.

Bone broth with cayenne pepper in it helps. One cup hot broth with at least a 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne in it. Drink at least three cups a day. You can drink more. I make a huge pot of it. One large raw chicken and simmer it all day with a couple tablespoons of vinegar. Eat the meat of course. Take a vitamin and mineral supplement each day. Maybe take double in morning and afternoon. Lots of sleep. It takes the body a lot of energy and nutrition to heal.
Glp

Bird flu (and Katrina) are what led me into preparedness.

Bird flu is dangerous, and I am afraid people aren't taking it seriously after getting yanked around by .gov during covid.

Things could get real, in a very ugly way.

quote:

Originally posted by Jefiner:
Bird flu (and Katrina) are what led me into preparedness. Bird flu is dangerous, and I am afraid people aren't taking it seriously after getting yanked around by .gov during covid. Things could get real, in a very ugly way.

I don't get this, Jefiner. One of the blessings of the Covid era was we learned a great deal about how to prevent and treat these respiratory infections. We also learned there is a great deal of GOF activity and we have to stop that.

quote:

Originally posted by Webster:

quote:

Originally posted by Jefiner:
Bird flu (and Katrina) are what led me into preparedness. Bird flu is dangerous, and I am afraid people aren't taking it seriously after getting yanked around by .gov during covid. Things could get real, in a very ugly way.

I don't get this, Jefiner. One of the blessings of the Covid era was we learned a great deal about how to prevent and treat these respiratory infections. We also learned there is a great deal of GOF activity and we have to stop that.

Oh, I think the CDC (as useless as the bureaucracy there is-that excludes the epidemiologists et al) is absolutely aware. My concern is that the general population is numb to any advisories about pandemic related info. That may change once their kids start keeling over.