Could avian flu cause the next human pandemic?
Our podcast on science and technology. This week, we explore why the spread of the virus from birds to mammals could put humans at risk. Are we prepared for an influenza pandemic?
Over the past 18 months, the largest-ever recorded avian influenza outbreak has decimated bird populations around the world. But recently bird flu has spread to mammals. Last week, Peru reported the deaths of 585 sea lions. If the virus has mutated to enable mammal-to-mammal transmission, that could be an intermediate step towards human-to-human transmission. How worrying is this threat?
The Intelligence
The threats to the dollar as the world’s reserve currency
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Editor’s picks
Israel’s belligerence in Gaza promises more destruction
A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist
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The Intelligence
The slaughter in Sumy shows how Putin is dragging out the war
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Editor’s picks
Why Donald Trump’s tariff delay is too little too late
A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist
08:42
Checks and Balance
Fee speech: how Trump’s cuts to universities will cost higher learning
Our weekly podcast on democracy in America. This week, we examine how the White House is exerting its dominance over academia and the consequences on freedom, innovation, and growth.
48:52