Data Gaps Leave Researchers Unsure Whether Bird Flu Is Spreading Among People

A man in Missouri contracted avian flu without any known contact with infected animals. New data could reveal whether the ongoing U.S. bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle has reached a dreaded turning point: the emergence of a virus capable of spreading from human to human. “The fear is that the virus is spreading within the community at low levels, and this is the first time that we’re detecting it,” says Scott Hensley, PhD, a professor of Microbiology. While researchers wait for more information, Hensley cautions against panic. “This could still be a one-off case and not the sign of something bigger,” he says.