Bird flu has been making headlines again, and if you’ve been wondering what’s really going on, you’re not alone. While the risk to the average person is still low, experts are keeping a close eye on the situation—especially as H5N1 spreads in mammals like cows, something we haven’t seen at this scale before.

At the same time, public health communication from the federal government has shifted under the new administration, leaving some experts concerned about transparency and the availability of critical data. So, what does that mean for us? Should we be worried about our food supply? How do we separate fact from misinformation? And what simple steps can we take to stay informed and prepared?

Today – I sit down with Jessica Malaty Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist and science communicator. Jessica has spent years making complex public health information easier to understand, and today, she’s here to help us make sense of what’s happening with bird flu, why testing matters, and how small actions—like getting a flu shot—can make a big difference.