Experts ranging from vets to immunologists have made it clear where they stand on the suggestion.

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Earlier this year, US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr made a controversial suggestion as to how to tackle the problem of H5N1 bird flu: consider letting it run through poultry farms. Multiple experts criticized the idea – but where do they stand nearly four months later, with bird flu having continued to spread in animals? Turns out, they still think it’s a terrible idea.

Writing in a new policy forum, a group of five experts ranging from veterinary medics to immunologists detailed their reasoning as to why letting the virus “run rampant”, as they described it, is far from a viable plan.

“This approach would be dangerous and unethical. Allowing a highly lethal, rapidly evolving, and contagious virus to run a natural course of infection in poultry would lead to unnecessary suffering of poultry and put other susceptible animals on and near affected farms at risk,” the authors state.

Kennedy’s reasoning for allowing bird flu to spread unmitigated, as an alternative to culling or vaccinating, is that it might allow us to identify and preserve only those birds with immunity to the virus.

Alongside unnecessary suffering, the authors point out that this plan would not only rapidly decrease the genetic diversity of poultry in the US – which might leave them more vulnerable in the event of future pathogens arising – but may also have another long-term impact.

“Such a ‘let-it-spread’ strategy may identify small numbers of poultry infected by H5 influenza virus that do not develop severe disease for unknown reasons; however, these birds could serve as a new longterm reservoir for the virus,” they explain.

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This provides the opportunity for H5N1 to become “a better pathogen”.

“Although it is not possible to fully predict future virus behavior, evidence suggests that there should be more (not less) worry about lapses in containment,” the authors write. “When a virus is given opportunity to freely infect a host, it often evolves to be a more efficient pathogen in that species. Therefore, selecting for resistant birds in the manner proposed by Secretary Kennedy may also increase the chances of H5 evolving to be a better pathogen in poultry.”

As well as the risks to poultry and other animals, the authors point out that there are dangers to humans, too.

“It would prolong exposure for farmworkers, which could increase viral adaptation and transmission risks for poultry, other peridomestic animals, and humans.”

As of July 1, the US has seen 70 confirmed human cases of bird flu since 2025, 24 of which were the result of exposure on poultry farms and culling operations, and 41 after exposure from dairy cattle herds. One of the 70 people infected died – the first such case in the US – after what is thought to have been exposure to the virus in both a backyard flock and wild birds.

In three of the confirmed human cases, the exposure source was deemed unknown, which has led to some speculation that the virus had begun spreading between humans – something that doesn’t yet appear to have happened.

“To date, humans have served as dead-end hosts for H5; however, the threat of these viruses acquiring the necessary mutations to support efficient human-to-human transmission has been the focus of much speculation, preparedness planning, policy debate, and research,” they wrote.

Back in February, Dr Robert Murphy, executive director of the Robert J. Havey Institute for Global Health at Northwestern University, told IFLScience that the possibility of seeing the virus spread between humans is “very likely”, with research having identified changes in the virus that may make it easier for it to infect human cells.

Still, the experts note that “the mechanisms by which avian influenza viruses of various subtypes adapt to become more humanlike are not fixed in the number or order of specific mutations (or reassortment events). There are insufficient data to accurately predict risk factors for host adaptation.”

But that still doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to let bird flu run wild. “It has been observed that the more virus circulating, the more opportunity exists for adaptation,” the authors say. In other words, if we let the virus run free, it increases the chance that it may pick up mutations that allow for transmission between humans.

So, if a “let-it-spread” approach isn’t feasible, what kind of plan is?

“There is no evidence that this virus will slow down,” the authors conclude. “Instead of letting it spread, which may dampen requirements or compliance with detection and reporting, we recommend enhancing case detection, reporting, and response to H5.”

“Not just to safeguard human health and address poultry welfare but for the safety of companion animal, livestock, and ecosystem health as well.”

The policy forum is published in Science.

By Esther Dianah | 10mos ago

As part of celebrations to mark World Elephant Day, a global coalition of scientists and conservationists yesterday presented the Tanzanian government with a petition signed by over 500,000 people, calling for an end to the trophy hunting of elephants along the country’s border with Kenya.

The petition, which has been gathering signatures since March 2024, was delivered to the Tanzanian High Commission in Nairobi and State House Tanzania during a press conference held at a Nairobi hotel.

The petition comes in response to a controversial move by Tanzanian authorities to issue hunting permits for “super tuskers” within the Greater Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro elephant population. In the last eight months alone, five of these iconic elephants were hunted and killed in northern Tanzania. More permits are expected to be issued, raising concerns about the future of these rare creatures.

While the management of elephants within Tanzania’s borders is recognized as a sovereign duty, scientists and conservationists highlighted the shared nature of the Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro elephant population, which has been protected under a bilateral agreement between Kenya and Tanzania for the past three decades.

“The loss of these elephants is not just a blow to elephant populations but to our collective efforts in conservation,” said Cynthia Moss, founder of the Amboseli Trust for Elephants.

The petition underscores the significant ecological and economic value of the Amboseli-West Kilimanjaro elephant population, which represents a unique genetic reservoir that transcends national borders. The recent surge in hunting incidents follows the issuance of a new hunting quota in 2022 to Kilombero North Safaris, ending a 30-year period during which no elephant hunting was reported in the area.

The last time such a tragedy occurred was in 1994 when four well-known elephants-RBG, Sleepy, Saibulu, and Oloitipitip-were killed by trophy hunters on the Tanzanian side of the border. This sparked an international outcry and led to a moratorium on trophy hunting of this transboundary elephant population, agreed upon by both nations in 1995.

The new hunting permits pose a grave threat to the survival of the largest cross-border elephants in Africa. The Amboseli ecosystem is now home to only 10 elephants with tusks weighing around 45kg each. Experts warn that the continued hunting of super tuskers could lead to their extinction within the next three years.

“The recent killings of super-tuskers is particularly concerning due to the rarity and special role these older males play in elephant society,” stated Joyce Poole, Scientific Director of Elephant Voices.

Although Kenya banned hunting in 1977, it is still legal in Tanzania. Hunting companies can obtain licenses on behalf of clients.

by Taboola

The petition, hosted on the international campaign site Avaaz, has garnered support from more than 50 African conservation organizations. The consortium is urging Tanzanian authorities to work closely with their Kenyan counterparts to protect this shared natural heritage.

“We urge President Ruto of Kenya and President Samia Suluhu of Tanzania to meet and agree on the immense scientific and economic value of preserving these cross-border elephants,” said Paula Kahumbu, CEO of WildlifeDirect.

Winnie Kiiru of the Elephant Protection Initiative and Mpala Research Centre echoed these concerns, stating, “The killing of these iconic elephants for ‘sport’ is morally troubling and economically short-sighted.”

Meanwhile, in Kenya, the elephant population has more than doubled in the last 30 years but this progress continues to be slowed down by challenges, including habitat loss, climate change, and poaching.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) says the elephant population has seen a remarkable recovery, growing from 16,000 in 1989 to over 36,280 as per the 2021 National Wildlife Census.

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“However, in recent times, we have witnessed a rise in elephant mortalities due to human-elephant conflict, driven by increased intolerance stemming from negative interactions,” said KWS director general Erustus Kanga as the country marked World Elephant Day yesterday.

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“Elephants are integral to our ecosystems, yet their survival increasingly hinges on our ability to foster harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife.”

Kanga said KWS is committed to finding sustainable solutions that benefit both elephants and the communities they share the land with.

“We encourage all conservation areas to engage in simple, low-cost activities in collaboration with stakeholders and local communities,” he added.