Fact-checking the Guardian: will bird flu kill most pregnant women and babies who contract it?


The following information is from Children’s Health Defense.


A recent article from The Guardian, under the headline Most pregnant women and unborn babies who contract bird flu will die, study finds,” cited a study titled Systematic Review of Avian Influenza Virus Infection and Outcomes During Pregnancy published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. Experts have criticized this interpretation as misleading and based on outdated data, arguing that it exaggerates the risks.ed data.

The study reviewed over 1,600 papers but found only eight that met its criteria, covering just 30 cases globally. Critics argue that drawing conclusions from such a small dataset is problematic. Many of these cases involved older bird flu strains that are no longer circulating. The limited data and outdated strains make it impossible to apply these findings to current risks.

“From this meager amount of data, the authors derived mortality rates in pregnancy. These data have no bearing on today because the strains affecting these cases have disappeared.”
—Dr. Meryl Nass, Internist and Bioweapons Expert

The methodology of the study has also been criticized for aggregating worst-case outcomes, further skewing its conclusions. By focusing only on case reports—documents often created to highlight unusually severe or rare outcomes—the study amplified negative results. This selective use of data has led experts to question the reliability of its findings and its applicability to the current strains of bird flu.

“We’re seeing the aggregation of the worst possible outcomes in the published literature, in order to draw conclusions about mortality.”
—Karl Jablonowski, Senior Research Scientist, Children’s Health Defense

One of the study’s most contentious recommendations is that pregnant women be included in vaccine trials for future pandemics. Traditionally, they are excluded due to safety concerns. Critics say this idea disregards the heightened risks faced by pregnant women and their unborn children when exposed to experimental drugs or vaccines.

The broader context of current bird flu risks also calls into question the relevance of this study. In 2024, just 13 global cases of H5N1 bird flu were reported outside the US, while the CDC reported 61 cases domestically. Critics argue that such low numbers do not support The Guardian’s alarmist narrative, which they describe as unnecessary fear-mongering.

For more details read the full article here.


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