Today we embark on the first of a two-part deep dive into a topic that's as fascinating as it is unsettling: avian influenza. Joining us is Dr. Wendy Puryear, a leading virologist who’s pioneering work on the H5N1 strain of avian influenza has revealed some startling truths about how this virus spreads and the profound impacts it has on wildlife, particularly marine mammals. In this episode, we'll explore the intricate dance of viruses as they leap from birds to mammals, mammals to mammals, and maybe even mammals to birds, uncovering the ecological and health implications of these cross-species transmissions. We'll hear from Dr. Puryear about the challenges and triumphs of tracking these invisible threats and the collaborative efforts needed to combat them. This is part one of our exploration into avian influenza. Get full access to Earth to Humans Podcast's Substack at earthtohumanspodcast.substack.com/subscribe