Headline shared on social media suggested that one-quarter of Americans could die from the highly pathogenic avian flu, or H5N1.

The persistence of the bird flu virus in the U.S. cattle population is alarming experts who fear cattle could become a lasting reservoir.

But already it has wrought devastation upon so many lives. The deaths of millions of birds and mammals around the globe in the last few years directly and indirectly from this outbreak should be enough to spur urgent action to stop the spread of the virus, as well as remind us of the role humans play in the proliferation of infectious diseases.

As the specter of bird flu looms large over global agriculture, the United States is ramping up its efforts with a substantial $100 million investment aimed at preventing the spread of this formidable virus to the cattle sector.