Is Bird Flu a Slow-Motion Disaster? How can industrial agriculture fuel a pandemic, and what risks do dairy workers face? On this episode of Oh Crop!, we're tackling the urgent bird flu crisis with award-winning journalist and public health expert Maryn McKenna. Maryn unravels the complex web of industrial agriculture, zoonotic diseases, and the escalating threat to animal and human health.

We delve into the realities of the current U.S. bird flu outbreak, exploring how intensive farming practices contribute to its rapid spread and evolution. Maryn sheds light on the often-overlooked risks agricultural workers face, particularly in the dairy industry, and examines animal welfare and biosecurity. Plus, we address the critical need for improved surveillance and testing systems and discuss the economic pressures that hinder effective health responses.

Maryn also highlights the challenges of public health communication, especially in vulnerable communities, and emphasizes the urgent need for increased research funding to understand and combat agricultural health threats. We touch on the cultural complexities surrounding meat consumption and explore the systemic changes required to prevent the spread of zoonotic disease.

Tune in for the down-low on Maryn's most recent New York Times-published Op-Ed, "We're running out of chances to stop bird flu."

Learn more at marynmckenna.com