889 human cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 worldwide since 2003 with a case fatality rate of 52%
H5N1 bird flu virus detected in raw milk
Latest outbreak led to deaths or killing of tens of millions of poultry and wild birds, infections in cows and goats
US confirmed cases in eight states, including Texas where human infection reported after exposure to dairy cattle
World Health Organization urges safe food practices and increased monitoring
The H5N1 bird flu virus, which has been infecting birds and mammals since 1996, has recently been detected in raw milk from infected animals. This development raises concerns about the potential transmission of the virus to humans through contaminated milk. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that there have been 889 human cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 worldwide since 2003, with a case fatality rate of 52%. The latest outbreak has led to the deaths or killing of tens of millions of poultry and wild birds, as well as infections in cows and goats. In the United States alone, there have been confirmed cases in eight states, including Texas where a human infection was reported after exposure to dairy cattle.
The WHO has urged people to ensure safe food practices by consuming only pasteurized milk and milk products. Pasteurization kills viruses such as H5N1 and is required for any milk entering interstate commerce in the US. However, there is still a lack of clarity on how long the virus can survive in raw milk.
Scientists are calling for more information from US agencies to assess the risk to cattle operations and people. Other countries are also trying to determine the implications for their own herds and populations based on limited information from the US.
The H5N1 bird flu virus is highly pathogenic and has an extraordinarily high mortality rate in humans, making it a significant public health concern. The WHO has urged increased monitoring and preparation for potential human-to-human transmission of the virus.
H5N1 bird flu virus strain found in high concentrations in raw milk from infected animals
First human case of bird flu infection from a cow reported in Texas
Bird-to-cow, cow-to-cow and cow-to-bird transmission have been registered during current outbreaks
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
The article contains some instances of inflammatory rhetoric and an appeal to authority, but no formal or dichotomous fallacies are present. The author reports on the findings of the WHO without adding any unnecessary or misleading commentary.
][Wenqing Zhang] said there was a ‘very high virus concentration in raw milk’[[
‘The case in Texas is the first case of a human infected by avian influenza by a cow’[[
‘Bird-to-cow, cow-to-cow and cow-to-bird transmission have also been registered during these current outbreaks, which suggest that the virus may have found other routes of transition than we previously understood’[[
‘Having candidate vaccine viruses ready allows us to be prepared to quickly produce vaccines for humans, if this becomes necessary’[[
The bird flu spreading through cattle in the United States is an
Accuracy
The bird flu spreading through cattle in the United States is an
H5N1 bird flu virus strain found in high concentrations in raw milk from infected animals
First human case of bird flu infection from a cow reported in Texas
Bird-to-cow, cow-to-cow and cow-to-bird transmission have been registered during current outbreaks
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(90%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of inflammatory rhetoric. It uses a quote from Dr. Richard Webby that employs an exaggerated description of the virus as being “scary”, which is intended to evoke fear in readers without providing any new information about the threat posed by H5N1. Additionally, there is a slight dichotomous depiction when stating that either the virus will develop key mutations and become a human pathogen or it won't, implying only those two outcomes are possible. However, the author does not commit any formal logical fallacies.
This flu strain was first detected in birds in 1996 and has primarily been a threat to farmed and wild fowl, but in the past two years, an increasing number of mammals have tested positive with the virus, indicating that the virus is looking for new hosts and moving closer to people.
The great concern, of course, is that in doing so and infecting ducks and chickens — but now increasingly mammals — that that virus now evolves and develops the ability to infect humans. And then critically, the ability to go from human-to-human transmission.
This virus is a really scary virus. It’s something I would hate to see in humans.
The agency also said it has created a candidate vaccine virus that can be used as a template to make a vaccine if needed.
Three and a half weeks after the first announcement, US agencies have not revealed if pasteurization kills H5N1 virus in milk
There is no evidence of a single linked outbreak among the 29 affected herds in eight states
Scientists and pandemic experts are calling for more information to assess risk to cattle operations and people
Other countries are trying to determine the implications for their own herds and people based on limited information from the US
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(95%)
The author expresses frustration and criticism towards the USDA for not releasing enough information about the H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in cattle. She quotes Marion Koopmans, a scientist from Erasmus Medical Center, who expresses her disappointment with the lack of transparency and speed in releasing information. The author's language implies that this is a significant issue and that other countries are struggling to assess their own risks due to the lack of information from the US.
But they are operating largely in the dark because the United States has released such sparse information, said Marion Koopmans, head of the department of viroscience at Erasmus Medical Center in the Dutch city of Rotterdam.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is leading the investigations into the outbreaks, pushed back on the criticism.
You would expect there would be some responsibility to share.
Michigan health officials are warning against consuming raw milk due to the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy herds.
HPAI has been found in dairy cattle in eight states, including Michigan, as well as wild mammals, birds, and domestic chicken flocks.
Only pasteurized milk is sold in stores and provided to children in school lunches in Michigan.
Accuracy
HPAI has been found in dairy cattle in eight states, including Michigan
Two cases of human infection with HPAI have been confirmed in the US and other countries.
Pasteurization kills viruses like HPAI but it survives in raw milk.
Children under age 5, adults over age 65, and those with weakened immune systems are more at risk for getting sick from raw milk.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(95%)
No fallacies found in the author's statements. However, there are appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric present in the quotes from Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
]Public health officials in Michigan are again warning against drinking unpasteurized, raw milk, this time because of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that has been found in dairy herds.
