Bird flu infects more mammals. What does that mean for us?

“I never let my kids go to a state fair or animal farm. I’m one of those parents,” said Dr. Lakdawala. “And that’s mainly because I know that the more interactions we have with animals, the more possibilities there are.”

Should H5N1 adapt to humans, federal officials will need to work together and with their international counterparts. Nationalism, competition and bureaucracy can all slow down the exchange of information that is crucial in a developing outbreak.

In some ways, the current spread among dairy cows is an opportunity to practice this exercise, says Rick Bright, the CEO of Bright Global Health, a consulting firm focused on improving responses to public health emergencies. But the U.S. Department of Agriculture only requires voluntary testing of cows, and is not as timely and transparent with its findings as it should be, he said.

Dr. Rosemary Sifford, the department’s chief veterinarian, said staff there were working hard to share information as quickly as possible. “This is considered an emerging disease,” she said.

Government leaders are generally cautious and want to see more data. But “given how quickly this can spread and the devastating disease it can cause if our leaders hesitate and don’t pull the right trigger at the right time, we will be caught flat-footed again,” says Dr. said Bright.

“If we don’t panic it, but we do it with the respect and due diligence,” he added, referring to the virus, “I believe we can handle it.”