Shaun Holt

Bird migration has started. Surveillance and early detection are key, especially as it relates to H5N1 and predicting this year's respiratory virus season.

The ongoing H5N1 avian flu outbreak has severely impacted U.S. poultry and dairy industries, prompting a $1 billion USDA response strategy that includes biosecurity, vaccination research, and innovation funding. With growing concern over viral mutations affecting humans and livestock, rapid, field-based diagnostic tools offer critical support in accelerating detection and containment efforts.