In March a farm worker who reported no contact with sick or dead birds, but who was in contact with dairy cattle, began showing symptoms in the eye and samples were collected by the regional health department to test for potential influenza A. Experts have now confirmed the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza transmission from a mammal (dairy cow) to a human.
there are hundreds of diseases that exist in mammals like dogs and bats which do not transmit to humans. when a new one does, it’s a big deal, all the time, every time. especially one that has crossed the taxonomic bridge from avians to mammals. for fucks sake.
Of course it’s a big deal. But H5N1 has transmitted already between multiple mammals (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/mammals , but you already know that stuff I think).
The phrasing in the quote, in my opinion, gives countless people the wrong idea of human uniqueness in this situation.
giving countless people the idea that this is a very big deal, is dangerous, and something to pay attention to, what is it now, 4 years after the start of a worldwide pandemic which saw millions of lives simply wiped off the board, and the global economy brought to a standstill, is precisely the message which should be broadcast. we were not ready for COVID, and we are STILL not prepared for the next one, because it costs the wrong people, too much time, effort, and money to be ready.