Looks like bird flu beat monkey pox

In August 2024, I ran a poll on my Instagram feed asking folks if they thought the next pandemic would be of the bird flu variety or the monkey pox strain.

The results were mostly neck in neck, but bird flu finished as the front winner.

You can see the results here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-quCANuX1c/

As it turns out, the bird flu pollsters were correct!

The media has been ramping up about bird flu for a couple of years now, but it looks like the powers that be are ready to formally roll it out in full force.

In New York State, On February 7th, 2025, the governor shut down live poultry markets after investigators found 7 cases of bird flu in the poultry. They found the cases due to testing, rather than due to symptomology of birds exhibiting any sickness.

Eighty (80) markets were affected by the order to shut down.

According to the media, the markets with a positive detection, had their flocks “depopulated.” That’s a gentle way of saying they killed all of the birds. And, the markets that did NOT have any positive detection of bird flu were ordered to sell all of their birds within 72 hours and then shut down.[1]

What’s interesting is that there have been zero cases of bird flu in humans in New York State. But, they culled (killed) the flocks anyway. As a precautionary measure, of course.

Governor Hochul said, “I want to reiterate that people shouldn’t be concerned. Let me be clear: There is no public health threat.”[2]

Hmmmmm, if that’s the case, why on earth did they kill all of the birds and shut down the markets?

Doesn’t make sense. Unless, of course, it’s to keep us safe from bird flu, right?

But, according to the CDC as it relates to bird flu around the United States, “no person-to-person transmission spread has been identified. As with the case in Louisiana, most H5 bird flu infections are related to animal-to-human exposures. Additionally, there are no concerning virologic changes actively spreading in wild birds, poultry, or cows that would raise the risk to human health.”[3]

If that’s the case, rather than killing ALL of the uninfected birds, wouldn’t it make more sense to protect the workers that are caring for the birds? Maybe give them a hazmat suit or some protective gloves and mask to use while working? You know… similar to what the inspectors used to check the birds for the virus.

That may have worked.

But, I’m not a scientist, or a government employee – just a regular human being brimming with common sense.

Interestingly, I have quite a few overseas clients. In 2022 and 2023 they told me that anyone with live chickens in their yards were ordered to register those chickens. Here’s what it says on the Gov.UK website:

“You must register within one month of keeping poultry or other captive birds at any premises in England or Wales. This includes any birds you keep as pets. You’re breaking the law if you do not register.”[4]

I live an apartment in New York so I don’t have any poultry, except for the ones inside my freezer waiting to be prepared as food.

But, I can tell you this…

If I did have LIVE poultry in my backyard, I would NOT register any of the birds with the government.

Not unless, I wanted that flock to suffer the same fate as the market birds.

Best of luck to everyone with backyard chickens. Keep them safe from your government.

[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/07/health/ny-bird-flu-markets/index.html

[2] https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/health/bird-flu-avian-cases-nyc-hochul-poultry-markets/6140563/

[3] https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2025/m0106-h5-birdflu-death.html

[4] https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-as-a-keeper-of-less-than-50-poultry-or-other-captive-birds