Growing concern over bird flu (H5N1) spreading to humans and dairy cow herds in the US
New definition encompasses respiratory droplets that spread through the air and land on a person, regardless of droplet size
USDA practices 'timely and transparent release of information' since bird flu outbreak began but critics argue for increased testing and sharing of viral sequences
WHO expresses 'great concern' over increase in bird flu cases in humans, fearing virus might evolve to infect humans
World Health Organization updates definition of airborne pathogens to include Covid-19, influenza, and measles
In recent developments, the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its definition of airborne pathogens to include respiratory droplets that spread through the air and land on a person, regardless of droplet size. This move aims to cut down on confusion surrounding the transmission of pathogens through the air. The new definition encompasses examples such as Covid-19, influenza, and measles. WHO's technical report published recently highlights two subcategories: airborne transmission and direct deposition, both of which can fall under the umbrella term of 'transmission through the air'.
Meanwhile, there is growing concern over the spread of bird flu (H5N1) to humans and dairy cow herds in the US. Michigan health officials have warned against consuming raw milk due to potential contamination with the bird flu virus. The World Health Organization has expressed 'great concern' over the increase in bird flu cases in humans, fearing that the virus might evolve and develop an ability to infect humans. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) claims it has been practicing 'timely and transparent release of information' since the bird flu outbreak began in early 2022. However, critics argue that both USDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are being protective with critical information and need to increase testing and sharing of viral sequences to better understand the virus's reach and transmission.
Despite these concerns, it is crucial to note that the risk to humans remains low. Scientists continue their research efforts in an attempt to gain a better understanding of these developments.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is updating the definition of airborne pathogens to include when respiratory droplets spread through the air and when they land on a person, regardless of the size of the droplet.
Covid-19, influenza, and measles are examples of airborne pathogens.
Accuracy
The terms 'airborne transmission' and 'direct deposition' both fall under the blanket phrase of 'transmission through the air.'
H5N1 bird flu spread to more humans and dairy cow herds in the US since April 1, 2022.
Michigan health officials warn against raw milk due to bird flu virus.
Accuracy
Cows from a milking herd in Texas tested positive for H5N1 but pasteurization of milk kills this virus.
WHO expresses ‘great concern’ over increase in bird flu cases in humans.
Deception
(80%)
The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author focuses on the increase in bird flu cases in humans and the potential for it to evolve and infect humans, while downplaying that pasteurization kills the virus in milk. The author also uses phrases like 'great concern' from WHO to create a sense of urgency without providing any new information. Additionally, there are calls for more transparency and research from outside sources, but the article does not provide any details on what has been shared or when.
It was unexpected news last month that cows from a milking herd in Texas had tested positive for H5N1, but apparently, pasteurization of milk kills this specific virus.
Journalist Helen Branswell, writing for STAT, raises a lot of food safety implications from bird flu...
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) is expressing ‘great concern’ over the increase in bird flu cases in humans.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few informal fallacies and an example of a dichotomous depiction. The author presents the World Health Organization's concern over the bird flu virus as evidence for their argument without providing counter-arguments or expert opinions that may challenge this view. This creates an imbalanced presentation, which is an informal fallacy known as 'one-sided evidence'. Additionally, the author quotes Helen Branswell's concerns about possible spreads of the virus from chickens to cattle and even people and/or pigs without providing counter-arguments or expert opinions that may challenge this view. This creates another imbalanced presentation, which is another example of 'one-sided evidence'. Lastly, the author presents USDA's claim about their transparency in releasing information as a defense against accusations of failure in transparency and fast-response research. This is an example of an 'appeal to authority', as the author relies on the credibility of USDA instead of providing concrete evidence for their claim. The article does not contain any formal logical fallacies, but due to the presence of informal fallacies and one dichotomous depiction, the score cannot be higher.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is expressing “great concern” over the increase in bird flu cases in humans.
H5N1 bird flu is spreading from birds to cows in the US.
USDA confirmed H5N1 presence in cows last week.
Risk to humans is low but more work needs to be done to understand the reach and transmission of the virus.
USDA and CDC are being criticized for protective information sharing and limited testing.
Accuracy
]The risk to humans is low but more work needs to be done to understand the reach and transmission of the virus.[
Deception
(80%)
The author expresses frustration with the USDA and CDC for not sharing critical information and being too timid in surveilling the virus. While this is a valid opinion, it does not constitute deception as long as it is clear that the author's statements are her own opinions and not facts. However, there are some instances of selective reporting in the article. The author mentions 'media reports suggest an unknown number of cows are asymptomatic.' This statement implies that there is a large number of asymptomatic cows, but no specific numbers or sources are provided to support this claim.
media reports suggest an unknown number of cows are asymptomatic.
Fallacies
(80%)
The author makes an appeal to authority by stating that 'there’s a palpable frustration among infectious disease experts' and implying that the USDA and CDC are not handling the situation adequately. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric with phrases like 'alarming new ways to surprise scientists' and 'too protective of critical information', which is a form of emotional appeal. However, no formal logical fallacies can be identified from the statements made by the author.
]The bird flu outbreak at US dairy farms keeps finding alarming new ways to surprise scientists.
There’s a palpable frustration among infectious disease experts that the agencies are being too protective of critical information and too timid in surveilling the virus.
