June 15, 2024
A multistate outbreak of HPAI A(H5N1) bird flu in dairy cows was first reported on March 25, 2024. This is the first time that these bird flu viruses had been found in cows. In the United States, since 2022, USDA APHIS has reported HPAI A(H5N1) virus detections in more than 200 mammals.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), three human cases of HPAI A(H5N1) infection have been identified, all among farmworkers with no known connections between them. Former CDC Director Robert Redfield predicts that it's only a matter of time before bird flu gains human-to-human transmission and leads to a pandemic.
Bird flu (H5N1) is a highly transmissible virus first discovered in birds in 1996. Since its discovery, H5N1 has infected and killed millions of wild and farmed birds. The virus has been found in at least 26 different kinds of mammals, including cows, cats, and house mice.
Mammals can be infected with H5N1 bird flu viruses when they eat infected birds or animals or are exposed to contaminated environments. CDC believes the current risk to the general public from bird flu viruses is low but people with job-related or recreational exposure to infected birds or animals, including cows, are at greater risk.
Redfield noted that he knows exactly what amino acids have to change for bird flu to gain a propensity to bind to a human receptor and then be able to go human-to-human. There is cause for concern as more than 40 cattle herds nationwide have confirmed cases of the virus.
The CDC is tracking wastewater treatment sites to pinpoint where the virus is but the agency said the general public's current risk of contracting the virus is low.
It's important to note that there are biases in reporting on this topic. Some sources may downplay or even deny the severity of bird flu, while others may exaggerate it. It's crucial to consider multiple sources and perspectives when forming an informed opinion.
