I have been covering the bird flu (aka Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza/HPAI) since 2022. Over that time, over 150 million birds have been culled in an effort to “slow the spread”.

How has that worked out? The current numbers suggest…not well.

Over December and January, owners of commercial, backyard, and hobbyist chicken flocks had to cull 41.4 million birds because of influenza exposure—three times more than the same period last year. The past two months are the most destructive stretch of the North American outbreak, which initially arrived three years ago via migrating wild birds from Europe.

Perhaps another approach would be better? For example, allowing the birds to be exposed and infected. The survivors could then be bred to create a more flu-resistant generation.