VERDICT: MULTIPLE FALSE CLAIMS
As H5N1 bird flu spreads through US dairy herds and causes the first American death in January 2025, a parallel epidemic of misinformation has emerged. Claims that Bill Gates funded research to make bird flu transmissible are FALSE. HHS Secretary RFK Jr. canceled $500 million in mRNA vaccine funding based on debunked claims. "Plandemic 2.0" theories about lab releases and PCR test conspiracies recycle COVID-era falsehoods with no new evidence.
H5N1 avian influenza has infected 70 people in the United States, killed 1 person, and spread to 989 dairy herds across 16 states as of early 2025. While the CDC assesses current public health risk as low, online misinformation has reached fever pitch.
This report examines four categories of false claims: Bill Gates conspiracy theories, RFK Jr.'s policy decisions based on debunked science, "Plandemic 2.0" narratives, and PCR test skepticism. Each claim is evaluated against CDC data, peer-reviewed research, and expert testimony.
The Current H5N1 Situation
According to the CDC, H5N1 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and has caused unprecedented outbreaks in US dairy cattle since early 2024. [1]
Key statistics as of early 2025:
- 70 human cases in the United States
- 1 death (Louisiana resident, January 2025)
- 989 dairy herds affected across 16 states
- 168+ million birds dead from bird flu since 2022
The Louisiana death marked the first H5N1 fatality in US history. The patient had exposure to backyard flocks and wild birds. [2]
| Claim | Verdict | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Gates funded research to make bird flu transmissible | FALSE | PolitiFact, Logically Facts |
| mRNA vaccines "cause more harm than benefit" | FALSE | JAMA, FactCheck.org |
| PCR tests prove bird flu is fake | FALSE | Nobel Committee, CDC |
| Pandemic prep = evidence of conspiracy | FALSE | FactCheck.org |
| Culling caused the egg crisis | MISLEADING | Pirbright Institute |
The Bill Gates Conspiracy
One of the most persistent bird flu conspiracies claims that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation funded research to make H5N1 transmissible to humans. [5]
The Claim
Viral posts state: "The Bill Gates Foundation awarded the University of Wisconsin-Madison a $9.5 million grant to conduct research on making the H5N1 virus transmissible to humans."
The Facts
The grant is real. The characterization is false.
In 2009, the Gates Foundation publicly awarded $9.5 million to UW-Madison. However, the grant funded research to identify mutations that could help predict influenza threats - not to engineer transmissibility. [6]
The Gates Foundation stated to Logically Facts: "Claims of [the Foundation] funding research to make bird flu transmissible to humans are false." [6]
Many bird flu conspiracy claims originate from Natural News, which NBC News ranked as one of the worst spreaders of online health misinformation. The Institute for Strategic Dialogue called it a "disinformation empire." [7]
RFK Jr.'s $500 Million Vaccine Cut
On August 7, 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. canceled nearly $500 million in grants and contracts supporting mRNA vaccine development, including bird flu preparedness. [4]
Kennedy's Justification
Kennedy claimed: "After reviewing the science and consulting top experts at NIH and FDA, HHS has determined that mRNA technology poses more risk than benefits against these respiratory viruses." [11]
What Experts Actually Say
Dr. Peter Hotez: "His science is backwards, as it often is. This is a proven technology for emerging respiratory viruses or respiratory virus pandemics. It is extremely safe and has been incredibly effective." [4]
Mike Osterholm (University of Minnesota): "I don't think I've seen a more dangerous decision in public health in my 50 years in the business." [4]
Rick Bright (former BARDA director): Called it "a huge strategic failure that will be measured in lives lost during times of crisis." [14]
Claim: "We've killed 166 million chickens. That's why we have an egg crisis."
Reality: Bird flu is the root cause. Infected birds "would die anyway if they were not depopulated," with lethality "pretty close to 100%." - Ian Brown, Pirbright Institute [3]
Claim: "Almost all of the people who have gotten sick were workers involved in culling operations."
Reality: Only 24 of 70 US cases involved poultry/culling exposure. This is "inaccurate." - Dr. Saskia Popescu [3]
"Plandemic 2.0" Narratives
Just as during COVID-19, conspiracy theories are framing bird flu as a planned event. A peer-reviewed study found 17.5% of analyzed tweets about bird flu discussed "plandemic" themes. [13]
Common Claims:
- Bill Gates will use bird flu to "depopulate the earth"
- The virus is a "bioweapon" released from a lab
- WHO will use the outbreak to declare martial law
- Bird flu is "fake" - just "COVID for chickens"
Kennedy himself suggested in June 2024: "With so much money on the table, is it conceivable that someone might deliberately release a bioengineered bird flu?" Dr. Andrew Pekosz called this idea "preposterous." [8]
The PCR Test Conspiracy
A recurring claim suggests that using PCR tests to detect bird flu "proves" the disease is fake or manufactured. [9]
"They're testing the animals for bird flu with PCR tests. That should give you a clue as to what's going on." — Viral tweet
The Facts: PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests have been used routinely in medicine, biology, and law enforcement for decades. The technique's inventor, Kary Mullis, won the Nobel Prize in 1993. PCR is the gold standard for detecting viral genetic material. [9]
Misinformation about bird flu has real consequences:
- Farmers refusing to report sick birds, allowing spread
- $1.2+ billion in pandemic preparedness funding canceled
- Distrust in public health undermining future outbreak response
- National security vulnerability if mRNA capacity is lost
Chris Meekins, former assistant secretary for pandemic preparedness, warned the vaccine funding cuts could create a "national security vulnerability." [14]
Conclusion
H5N1 bird flu is a real and evolving public health challenge. The CDC assesses current risk to the general public as low, but continued monitoring is essential.
Every major conspiracy claim examined - from Bill Gates funding transmissibility research to PCR tests being evidence of fraud - has been rated FALSE by multiple independent fact-checking organizations using primary sources.
The most consequential misinformation is coming from official channels: HHS Secretary RFK Jr. has canceled over $1.2 billion in pandemic preparedness funding based on claims that experts have called "backwards," "dangerous," and "a strategic failure measured in lives lost."
For accurate information on H5N1, consult the CDC Bird Flu website.