Summarised by Centrist
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has proposed allowing bird flu to spread naturally through poultry farms instead of relying on mass culling, drawing sharp reactions.
Speaking to Fox News, Kennedy suggested that farmers “let it run through the flock” to identify birds with natural immunity, arguing that this could help preserve resistant birds while mitigating long-term risks.
Although unorthodox, Kennedy’s approach has gained some support. US Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins acknowledged that some farmers are open to testing the idea, saying, “There are some farmers that are out there that are willing to really try this on a pilot as we build the safe perimeter around them to see if there is a way forward with immunity.”
However, veterinary experts warn of serious risks. Dr Gail Hansen, a former Kansas state veterinarian, criticised the proposal as “a really terrible idea,” arguing that uncontrolled spread could give the virus “five million chances” to mutate into a more dangerous form.
Since January 2022, bird flu outbreaks have affected over 166 million birds in the US. While the H5N1 strain has not yet adapted to infect humans, concerns remain.
Despite pushback, Kennedy’s team insists that mass culling presents its own dangers and believes exploring immunity-based strategies is worth considering.
