1264: Could bird flu still spark a pandemic? episode artwork

EPISODE · Mar 25, 2026 · 19 MIN

1264: Could bird flu still spark a pandemic?

from Science Friday · host Science Friday

Bird flu has flown off the national news radar, with only scattered, local reports of dead birds in parks and poultry farms. Is it simply no longer a concern, or have cuts to federal science funding disrupted monitoring for this disease? Airborne pathogens expert Seema Lakdawala gives a flyover view on where bird flu stands today, and whether the government’s current monitoring efforts are enough to help prevent another pandemic.Guest:Dr. Seema Lakdawala is co-director of the Center for Transmission of Airborne Pathogens and an associate professor at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.Transcripts for each episode are available within 1-3 days at sciencefriday.com.Subscribe to this podcast. Plus, to stay updated on all things science, sign up for Science Friday's newsletters.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Mar 25, 2026

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As local reports of dead birds rise, the greatest human risk continues to fall on some of the most vulnerable: farm workers.

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1264: Could bird flu still spark a pandemic?

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