We observed with great interest the reaction of federal scientists after avian flu appeared in dairy cattle and how it compared to the vast overreaction state and federal experts exhibited when COVID-19 appeared on the scene in 2020 and 2021.

In the case of avian flu’s appearance in dairy cattle, federal scientists have done an extraordinary job of nailing down the facts before they acted. In our view, this is what the folks at the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration are supposed to do.

Avian flu had been a problem in wild birds and poultry long before it showed up at a Texas dairy earlier this year. In birds, the flu is fatal. In cattle, it is a relatively minor affliction with relatively minor symptoms: a low appetite, reduced milk production and thickened and discolored milk.

If they become infected, cows are isolated for a few weeks and given aspirin. Once they feel better they can return to the normal life of a cow.

In addition to helping farmers increase biosecurity, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and Animal and Plant Inspection Service scientists tested cows, milk and beef from states where the flu was spreading to make sure they were free of virus. Sick animals and their milk were kept out of the food chain.

In the case of COVID, federal scientists were not so reassuring. Neither were politicians, many of whom appeared to have been absent when viruses were studied in their high school biology classes.

Some journalists apparently played hooky from those classes, too. We recall one report in which a man in his 30s had died of COVID, which, of course, was a tragedy. The point of the story was that even a young man could succumb to the virus. The reporter went out of her way to mention that he had been engaged to be married. Again, a tragedy.

Only in passing was it mentioned that the gentleman weighed more than 400 pounds. His health was already greatly compromised by obesity. The gist of the story — that age didn’t matter for COVID victims — skipped over the fact that anyone whose health was compromised or who was old was more likely to become seriously ill. People who were young and healthy were far less likely to become seriously ill.

At the same time, politicians in some states were declaring emergencies, forcing people to stay home and shutting down businesses. Billboards in Oregon warned people to “Stay Home, Save lives.” The unintended consequence was to scare people and put many of them out of a job.

And this was before all of the facts were in about COVID. According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, COVID was only the third leading cause of death in 2020 and 2021, after heart disease and cancer.

Thank goodness USDA’s scientists are investigating the facts first to prevent an overreaction regarding avian flu in cattle. We wish similarly steady hands had been available to reassure the public during the COVID outbreak.