The next pandemic: Can we avoid repeating history?

(The Dallas Examiner) – Bird flu – also known as H5N1 – emerged in Asia in 1996, infecting poultry and spreading throughout Europe and Africa into the early 2000’s. By 2005, East Asia and Europe had experience widespread deaths in its wild birds. The virus has re-emerged, spreading amongst dairy cows in the U.S. and infecting at least three people who were known to be farm workers. Researchers have been concerned that new mutations could increase the likelihood of human infection and another global pandemic. The USC Center for Health Journalism recently formed a panel of experts to discuss the chances of history repeating itself.“These new developments can create a strong feeling of déjà vu in a nation still recovering from the devastating losses of COVID-19 and eager to put the misery of pandemics behinds us,” Jacqueline Stenson, manager of projects at the USC Center for Health Journalism, explained as she opened the panel discussion.Related Stories “The work of pandemic preparedness has never been more vital for averting another disaster of unthinkable proportions.”Apoorva Mandavilli, science and global health reporter for the New York Times, first learned about the new H5N1 outbreak in March.“I would like to say that we know...