(2:20)

There are so many things to be apprehensive about as MAGA is once again poised to take over the reins of government. The economy, our mutual defense alliances, the vast gulf between the rich and the middle class and poor, education and social programs to name just a few.

One thing in particular that casts a long specter over the land is the anti-science stand that MAGAs and the right wing are so proud of. So proud that they openly nominate and back one of the most anti-science of them all – Robert F. Kennedy, jr. to be their secretary in charge of Health and Human Services. This is a post where he can do a huge amount of damage.

Remember that because of the previous Trump administration’s terrible response to all things covid, we probably lost more than half a million Americans. That seems to be a very low ball number. Do not forget that that administration dismantled operations that were set up world-wide to catch such a pandemic early on. We will never know what the outcome might have been had those operations been left in place.

We know Kennedy, if approved, will do what he can to inhibit current vaccination programs. All those childhood diseases THAT CAN AND DO KILL CHILDREN may no longer be mandatory. Therefore, Kennedy could be ushering in another dark age for diseases.

All this makes me very apprehensive as we turn into the New Year and I read stories of bird flus skipping between various species. So far the disease is being monitored and tracked very well. Human cases are popping up, but so far county health offices are on top of it.

But the intersection of an RNA virus and the potential of a defunded and dismantled monitoring system is too much of a possibility to ignore. In Iowa, the iowacapitoldispatch.com is reporting at least one case where bird flu has crossed from birds to humans. 

Several flocks of domesticated birds (turkeys and chickens) have already been culled due to the birds flu. So far there seems to be no human-to-human spread, Iowa is currently closely monitoring the situation:

At this time CDC and Iowa HHS have said the public health risk remains low as there is “no evidence” that human-to-human transmission is occurring.

“Iowa has monitored the spread of avian influenza closely since it was first detected in poultry in the state in 2022, and our state is prepared with the established knowledge, strong partnerships, and effective tools to mitigate its impact on our community,” State Medical Director Robert Kruse said in the HHS press release.

In another story from the capitol dispatch, pathologists express concern that the virus has spread among several species and that it is prone to mutations that may make it more easily spread to humans:

Pritt, who is also the chair for the CAP council on scientific affairs, explained the H5N1 virus is an RNA virus, so in every infected animal the virus replicates and is prone to mutations, therefore raising the likelihood of a mutation occurring that would make it more transmissible among humans.

“But it is true that at this point, there are no mutations that are really … making us worry that this is going to widely spread between humans,” Pritt said.

Pritt’s other concern is the range of animals being infected with the virus, including domestic cats and, importantly, pigs. Pigs, she explained, can carry both bird and human influenza viruses which creates a “mixing pot” that can lead to the creation of new viruses.

Note also that bird flu is showing up in cats, both feral and domesticated. While currently not easily spread from feline to human a mutation could change that. Also note that some cats on farms are thought to be getting the disease through raw cows’ milk. Mr. Kennedy is thought to be in favor of lifting regulations on sales of raw cows’ milk.

Once burned, twice shy! We have seen the destruction that bad policies can have on the collective health of the country. We need to be vigilant and to make sure that the leaders of the Democratic Party have our backs in the bird flu situation. 

Based on their track record we know that MAGA politicians (especially Grassley, Ernst, Miller-Meeks, Hinson, Nunn and Feenstra) sure won’t.