Do you remember the first time you were taught about germs? For me, it was sometime during elementary school. I grew up attending public school and was no stranger to the inevitable slew of respiratory illnesses prominent during the winter. Though I practiced general preventative measures like hand-washing, sanitizing and not touching my face, I always seemed to get sick at least once during the season. It was not until the COVID-19 pandemic began midway through my junior year of high school that I began to understand contagion and identify resources to stay informed about public health. Through the dissemination of mis- and disinformation via social networks like Instagram and X, I formed healthy fact-checking habits by going to the cited sources or calling upon the wisdom of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and reputable news outlets. Because of this, I was able to make informed decisions that supported the health of myself and those around me.
The pandemic was a crucial lesson in public health—if ignored, infectious diseases have the potential to take the lives of millions. But, if taken seriously, we can protect ourselves and each other. Government response during national health crises is also vital to protecting the population, and in order to be effective, the general population must also remain informed of recommended precautions as well as the current status of the spread.
Over one million lives have been lost in the U.S. since the pandemic began. Yet, despite the hard lessons learned from the threat to public health, the new administration in the U.S. has ordered a major freeze on public health communications at a federal level. The Associated Press (AP) reported that the communication freeze was to last through the end of January at a minimum. Effects remain to this day, with the website for the CDC displaying a message that reads “CDC’s website is being modified to comply with President Trump’s Executive Orders.” Further, an executive order withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization (WHO) was issued on Jan. 20. Ironically, the justification given for this brash move is the organization’s mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as other global health crises.
The communication freeze comes at a time when cases of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, have been on the rise in the United States since the 2020s and have spiked in several states as of late. Largely confined to bird populations, the disease first came into the national spotlight in 2022, when an outbreak in wild birds was reported. In March 2024, an outbreak in poultry spread to goat kids on the same farm, and reports of dairy cow infection emerged in Kansas and Texas. Subsequently, in April 2024, a person in the U.S. tested positive for the virus after being exposed to sick cattle, marking the first known cow-to-human transmission. From April through July 2024, three additional ill individuals were identified after exposure to sick dairy cows. Since the outbreak began, 67 total human cases have been reported in the U.S. On Jan. 6, 2025, the first human death associated with bird flu in the U.S. was reported in Louisiana.
Two previous articles from The Miscellany News, written in 2022 and 2023, respectively, warned of the gravity of bird flu and its potential havoc on humans. Recently, experts have also cautioned that although recent mutations in the virus are posing a more significant threat to public health than before, staving off a pandemic is still possible. At present, no human-to-human transmission has been identified, so avoiding sick or dead animals is the best avenue to remaining safe.
Most recently, a case of bird flu was found in a bird from Vassar’s campus, as per a Public Health Notice issued on Jan. 31 via email by Director of Environmental Health & Safety Michael Lonon. He reported that officials would be testing other birds, and the results would be relayed in about a month. The email concluded with advice for actions the community should take if they encounter a sick animal.
Vassar’s students are fortunate to live on a campus where the community is familiar with preventative measures and information about public health is accessible. Beyond email notifications from the administration, faculty and staff are also incredibly responsive to student questions and anxieties about pressing national events, like the rise of avian influenza. It is vital to the health of our campus that we leverage these resources to educate ourselves and take precautions when necessary.
In the current trying times where national policy changes by the day and infectious illnesses run rampant, it is important to acknowledge that solutions exist, but we must act on them. With the sweeping changes at a federal level, attempting to stay informed can feel hopeless. But resources for the greater public do exist. Local news outlets and credible online forums are great ways to remain in touch with what is going on around you. Practicing good hygiene, including routine hand washing and monitoring any illness symptoms is also important for protecting yourself. Further, if you are sick, get tested and stay home until you are feeling better. If you are still contagious, wear a mask to protect those around you. Specific to bird flu, avoid contact with sick or deceased animals and monitor any flu-like symptoms. Together, we can make our communities safer for everyone.