bird flu

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UK on alert after H5N1 bird flu spills over to sheep in world-first

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In the UK, officials said further testing of the rest of the sheep’s flock has found no other infections. The one infected ewe has been humanely culled to mitigate further risk and to “enable extensive testing.”

“Strict biosecurity measures have been implemented to prevent the further spread of disease,” UK Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said in a statement. “While the risk to livestock remains low, I urge all animal owners to ensure scrupulous cleanliness is in place and to report any signs of infection to the Animal Plant Health Agency immediately.”

While UK officials believe that the spillover has been contained and there’s no onward transmission among sheep, the latest spillover to a new mammalian species is a reminder of the virus’s looming threat.

“Globally, we continue to see that mammals can be infected with avian influenza A(H5N1),” Meera Chand, Emerging Infection lead at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said in a statement. In the US, the Department of Agriculture has documented hundreds of infections in wild and captive mammals, from cats and bears to raccoons and harbor seals.

Chand noted that, so far, the spillovers into animals have not easily transmitted to humans. For instance, in the US, despite extensive spread through the dairy industry, no human-to-human transmission has yet been documented. But, experts fear that with more spillovers and exposure to humans, the virus will gain more opportunities to adapt to be more infectious in humans.

Chand says that UKHSA and other agencies are monitoring the situation closely in the event the situation takes a turn. “UKHSA has established preparations in place for detections of human cases of avian flu and will respond rapidly with NHS and other partners if needed.”

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Bird flu continues to spread as Trump’s pandemic experts are MIA

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Under the Biden administration, OPPR also worked behind the scenes. At the time, it was directed by Paul Friedrichs, a physician and retired Air Force major-general. Friedrichs told CNN that the OPPR regularly hosted interagency calls between the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the USDA, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, the US Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. When the H5N1 bird flu outbreak erupted in dairy farms last March, OPPR was hosting daily meetings, which transitioned to weekly meetings toward the end of the administration.

“At the end of the day, bringing everybody together and having those meetings was incredibly important, so that we had a shared set of facts,” Friedrichs said. “When decisions were made, everyone understood why the decision was made, what facts were used to inform the decision.”

Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who co-wrote the bill that created OPPR with former Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), is concerned by Trump’s sidelining of the office.

“Under the last administration, OPPR served, as intended, as the central hub coordinating a whole-of-government response to pandemic threats,” she said in a written statement to CNN. “While President Trump cannot legally disband OPPR, as he has threatened to do, it is deeply concerning that he has moved the statutorily created OPPR into the NSC.”

“As intended by law, OPPR is a separate, distinct office for a reason, which is especially relevant now as we are seeing outbreaks of measles, bird flu, and other serious and growing threats to public health,” Murray wrote. “This should be alarming to everyone.”

Bird flu continues to spread as Trump’s pandemic experts are MIA Read More »

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Trump admin. fires USDA staff working on bird flu, immediately backpedals

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Over the weekend, the Trump administration fired several frontline responders to the ongoing H5N1 bird flu outbreak—then quickly backpedaled, rescinding those terminations and attempting to reinstate the critical staff.

The termination letters went out to employees at the US Department of Agriculture, one of the agencies leading the federal response to the outbreak that continues to plague US dairy farms and ravage poultry operations, affecting over 160 million birds and sending egg prices soaring. As the virus continues to spread, infectious disease experts fear it could evolve to spread among humans and cause more severe disease. So far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented 68 cases in humans, one of which was fatal.

Prior to Trump taking office, health experts had criticized the country’s response to H5N1 for lack of transparency at times, sluggishness, inadequate testing, and its inability to halt transmission among dairy farms, which was once considered containable. To date, 972 herds across 17 states have been infected since last March, including 36 herds in the last 30 days.

In a statement to Ars Technica, a USDA spokesperson said that the agency views the response to the outbreak of H5N1—a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)—as a priority. As such, the agency had protected some positions from staff cuts by granting exemptions, which went to veterinarians, animal health technicians, and others. But not all were exempted, and some were fired.

“Although several positions supporting HPAI were notified of their terminations over the weekend, we are working to swiftly rectify the situation and rescind those letters,” the spokesperson said.

The USDA did not respond to Ars Technica’s questions regarding how many employees working on the outbreak were fired, how many of those terminations were rescinded, or how many employees have been reinstated since the weekend.

The cuts are part of a larger, brutal effort by the Trump administration to slash federal agencies, and the cuts have imperiled other critical government and public services. In recent days, several agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy, among others, have been gutted. At CDC, cuts devastated the agency’s premier disease detectives program—the Epidemic Intelligence Service—members of which are critical to responding to outbreaks and other health emergencies.

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H5N1 testing in cow veterinarians suggests bird flu is spreading silently

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Three veterinarians who work with cows have tested positive for prior infections of H5 bird flu, according to a study released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The finding may not seem surprising, given the sweeping and ongoing outbreak of H5N1 among dairy farms in the US, which has reached 968 herds in 16 states and led to infections in 41 dairy workers. However, it is notable that none of the three veterinarians were aware of being infected, and none of them worked with cows that were known or suspected to be infected with H5N1. In fact, one of them only worked in Georgia and South Carolina, two states where H5N1 infections in dairy cows and humans have never been reported.

The findings suggest that the virus may be moving in animals and people silently, and that our surveillance systems are missing infections—both long-held fears among health experts.

The authors of the study, led by researchers at the CDC, put the takeaway slightly differently, writing: “These findings suggest the possible benefit of systematic surveillance for rapid identification of HPAI A(H5) virus in dairy cattle, milk, and humans who are exposed to cattle to ensure appropriate hazard assessments.”

H5N1 testing in cow veterinarians suggests bird flu is spreading silently Read More »

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Bird flu strain that just jumped to cows infects dairy worker in Nevada

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However, the new Nevada case is notable because it marks the first time D1.1 is known to have jumped from birds to cows to a person. Moreover, D1.1 has proven dangerous. The genotype is behind the country’s only severe and ultimately fatal case of H5N1 so far in the outbreak. The death in the Louisiana case linked to wild and backyard birds was reported last month. The CDC’s statement added that the person had “prolonged, unprotected” exposure to the birds. The D1.1. genotype was also behind a severe H5N1 infection that put a Canadian teenager in intensive care late last year.

In a February 7 analysis, the USDA reported finding that the D1.1 strain infecting cows in Nevada has a notable mutation known to help the bird-adapted virus replicate in mammals more efficiently (PB2 D701N). To date, this mutation has not been seen in D1.1 strains spreading in wild birds nor has it been seen in the B3.13 genotype circulating in dairy cows. However, it was seen before in a 2023 human case in Chile. The CDC said it has confirmed that the strain of D1.1 infecting the person in Nevada also contains the PB2 D701N mutation.

The USDA and CDC both reported that no other concerning mutations were found, including one that has been consistently identified in the B3.13 strain in cows. The CDC said it does not expect any changes to how the virus will interact with human immune responses or to antivirals.

Most importantly, to date, there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission, which would mark a dangerous turn for the virus’s ability to spark an outbreak. For all these reasons, the CDC considers the risk to the public low, though people with exposure to poultry, dairy cows, and birds are at higher risk and should take precautions.

To date, 967 herds across 16 states have been infected with H5N1 bird flu, and nearly 158 million commercial birds have been affected since 2022.

Bird flu strain that just jumped to cows infects dairy worker in Nevada Read More »

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H5N1 bird flu spills over again; Nevada cows hit with different, deadly strain

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The spread of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cows is unprecedented; the US outbreak is the first of its kind in cows. Virologists and infectious disease experts fear that the continued spread of the virus in domestic mammals like cows, which have close interactions with people, will provide the virus countless opportunities to spill over and adapt to humans.

So far, the US has tallied 67 human cases of H5N1 since the start of 2024. Of those, 40 have been in dairy workers, while 23 were in poultry workers, one was the Louisiana case who had contact with wild and backyard birds, and three were cases that had no clear exposure.

Whether the D1.1 genotype will pose a yet greater risk for dairy workers remains unclear for now. Generally, H5N1 infections in humans have been rare but dangerous. According to data collected by the World Health Organization, 954 H5N1 human cases have been documented globally since 2003. Of those, 464 were fatal, for a fatality rate among documented cases of 49 percent. But, so far, nearly all of the human infections in the US have been relatively mild, and experts don’t know why. There are various possible factors, including transmission route, past immunity of workers, use of antivirals, or something about the B3.13 genotype specifically.

For now, the USDA says that the detection of the D1.1 genotype in cows doesn’t change their eradication strategy. It further touted the finding as a “testament to the strength of our National Milk Testing Strategy.”

H5N1 bird flu spills over again; Nevada cows hit with different, deadly strain Read More »

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As US marks first H5N1 bird flu death, WHO and CDC say risk remains low

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The H5N1 bird flu situation in the US seems more fraught than ever this week as the virus continues to spread swiftly in dairy cattle and birds while sporadically jumping to humans.

On Monday, officials in Louisiana announced that the person who had developed the country’s first severe H5N1 infection had died of the infection, marking the country’s first H5N1 death. Meanwhile, with no signs of H5N1 slowing, seasonal flu is skyrocketing, raising anxiety that the different flu viruses could mingle, swap genetic elements, and generate a yet more dangerous virus strain.

But, despite the seemingly fever-pitch of viral activity and fears, a representative for the World Health Organization today noted that risk to the general population remains low—as long as one critical factor remains absent: person-to-person spread.

“We are concerned, of course, but we look at the risk to the general population and, as I said, it still remains low,” WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris told reporters at a Geneva press briefing Tuesday in response to questions related to the US death. In terms of updating risk assessments, you have to look at how the virus behaved in that patient and if it jumped from one person to another person, which it didn’t, Harris explained. “At the moment, we’re not seeing behavior that’s changing our risk assessment,” she added.

In a statement on the death late Monday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized that no human-to-human transmission has been identified in the US. To date, there have been 66 documented human cases of H5N1 infections since the start of 2024. Of those, 40 were linked to exposure to infected dairy cows, 23 were linked to infected poultry, two had no clear source, and one case—the fatal case in Louisiana—was linked to exposure to infected backyard and wild birds.

As US marks first H5N1 bird flu death, WHO and CDC say risk remains low Read More »

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Louisiana resident in critical condition with H5N1 bird flu

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The Louisiana resident infected with H5N1 bird flu is hospitalized in critical condition and suffering from severe respiratory symptoms, the Louisiana health department revealed Wednesday.

The health department had reported the presumptive positive case on Friday and noted the person was hospitalized, as Ars reported. But a spokesperson had, at the time, declined to provide Ars with the patient’s condition or further details, citing patient confidentiality and an ongoing public health investigation.

This morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that it had confirmed the state’s H5N1 testing and determined that the case “marks the first instance of severe illness linked to the virus in the United States.”

In a follow-up, the health department spokesperson Emma Herrock was able to release more information about the case. In addition to being in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms, the person is reported to be over the age of 65 and has underlying health conditions.

Further, the CDC collected partial genetic data of the H5N1 strain infecting the patient, finding it to be of D1.1. genotype, which has been detected in wild birds and some poultry in the US. Notably, it is the same genotype seen in a Canadian teenager who was also hospitalized in critical condition from the virus last month. The D1.1. genotype is not the same as the one circulating in US dairy cows, which is the B3.13 genotype.

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Bird flu jumps from birds to human in Louisiana; patient hospitalized

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A person in Louisiana is hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu after having contact with sick and dying birds suspected of carrying the virus, state health officials announced Friday.

It is the first human H5N1 case detected in Louisiana. For now, the case is considered a “presumptive” positive until testing is confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Health officials say that the risk to the public is low but caution people to stay away from any sick or dead birds.

Although the person has been hospitalized, their condition was not immediately reported. It’s also unclear what kind of birds the person had contact with—wild, backyard, or commercial birds. Ars has reached out to Louisiana’s health department and will update this piece with any additional information.

The case is just the latest amid H5N1’s global and domestic rampage. The virus has been ravaging birds of all sorts in the US since early 2022 and spilling over to a surprisingly wide range of mammals. In March this year, officials detected an unprecedented leap to dairy cows, which has since caused a nationwide outbreak. The virus is currently sweeping through California, the country’s largest dairy producer.

To date, at least 845 herds across 16 states have contracted the virus since March, including 630 in California, which detected its first dairy infections in late August.

Human cases

At least 60 people in the US have been infected amid the viral spread this year. But the new case in Louisiana stands out. To date, nearly all of the human cases have been among poultry and dairy workers—unlike the new case in Louisiana— and almost all have been mild—also unlike the new case. Most of the cases have involved conjunctivitis—pink eye—and/or mild respiratory and flu-like symptoms.

There was a case in a patient in Missouri who was hospitalized. However, that person had underlying health conditions, and it’s unclear if H5N1 was the cause of their hospitalization or merely an incidental finding. It remains unknown how the person contracted the virus. An extensive investigation found no animal or other exposure that could explain the infection.

Bird flu jumps from birds to human in Louisiana; patient hospitalized Read More »

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US to start nationwide testing for H5N1 flu virus in milk supply

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So, the ultimate goal of the USDA is to eliminate cattle as a reservoir. When the Agency announced it was planning for this program, it noted that there were two candidate vaccines in trials. Until those are validated, it plans to use the standard playbook for handling emerging infections: contact tracing and isolation. And it has the ability to compel cattle and their owners to be more cooperative than the human population turned out to be.

The five-step plan

The USDA refers to isolation and contact tracing as Stage 3 of a five-stage plan for controlling H5N1 in cattle, with the two earlier stages being the mandatory sampling and testing, meant to be handled on a state-by-state basis. Following the successful containment of the virus in a state, the USDA will move on to batch sampling to ensure each state remains virus-free. This is essential, given that we don’t have a clear picture of how many times the virus has jumped from its normal reservoir in birds into the cattle population.

That makes it possible that reaching Stage 5, which the USDA terms “Demonstrating Freedom from H5 in US Dairy Cattle,” will turn out to be impossible. Dairy cattle are likely to have daily contact with birds, and it may be that the virus will be regularly re-introduced into the population, leaving containment as the only option until the vaccines are ready.

Testing will initially focus primarily on states where cattle-to-human transmission is known to have occurred or the virus is known to be present: California, Colorado, Michigan, Mississippi, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. If you wish to track the progress of the USDA’s efforts, it will be posting weekly updates.

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Raw milk recalled for containing bird flu virus, California reports

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Pasteurization

The milk-related risk of H5N1 is only from raw milk; pasteurized milk does not contain live virus and is safe to drink. Pasteurization, which heats milk to a specific temperature for a specified amount of time, kills a variety of bacteria and viruses, including bird flu. Influenza viruses, generally, are considered susceptible to heat treatments because they have an outer layer called an envelope, which can be destabilized by heat. Studies that have specifically looked at the effectiveness of heat-killing treatments against H5N1 have repeatedly found that pasteurization effectively inactivates the virus.

The advent of pasteurization is considered a public health triumph. Its adoption of a safe milk supply contributed to a dramatic reduction in infant deaths in the early 20th century. Before that, milkborne infections—including human and bovine tuberculosis, brucellosis, salmonellosis, streptococcal infections, diphtheria, and “summer diarrhea”—were common killers of infants.

As such, public health officials have long advised people against consuming raw milk, which has no evidence-based health benefits. Raw milk consumption, meanwhile, is linked to higher rates of outbreaks from pathogens including Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, toxin-producing E. coli, Brucella, Campylobacter, and many other bacteria.

Risky drinking

Since H5N1 was found spreading among dairy cows in March, health experts have warned about the additional risk of consuming raw milk. Still, consumption of raw milk has continued, and surprisingly increased, as supporters of the dangerous practice have accused health officials of “fearmongering.”

When the retail sampling of Raw Farm’s milk came back positive, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) conducted testing at the company’s locations, which were negative for the virus. The CDFA will now begin testing Raw Farm’s milk for bird flu twice a week.

The recalled milk has lot code 20241109 and a “best by” date of November 27, 2024, printed on the packaging.​

“Drinking or accidentally inhaling raw milk containing bird flu virus may lead to illness,” California’s public health department said. “In addition, touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after touching raw milk with bird flu virus may also lead to infection.”

Some US dairy workers who contracted the virus from infected cows reported having had milk splash in their eyes and face. A common symptom of H5N1 infections in humans during the dairy outbreak has been conjunctivitis, aka eye inflammation.

Raw milk recalled for containing bird flu virus, California reports Read More »

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Teen in critical condition with Canada’s first human case of H5 bird flu

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A British Columbia teen who contracted Canada’s first known human case of H5 bird flu has deteriorated swiftly in recent days and is now in critical condition, health officials reported Tuesday.

The teen’s case was announced Saturday by provincial health officials, who noted that the teen had no obvious exposure to animals that could explain an infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza. The teen tested positive for H5 bird flu at BC’s public health laboratory, and the result is currently being confirmed by the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.

The teen’s case reportedly began with conjunctivitis, echoing the H5N1 human case reports in the US. The case then progressed to fever and cough, and the teen was admitted to BC’s Children’s hospital late Friday. The teen’s condition varied throughout the weekend but had taken a turn for the worse by Tuesday, according to BC provincial health officer Bonnie Henry.

“This was a healthy teenager prior to this—so, no underlying conditions—and it just reminds us that in young people, this is a virus that can progress and cause quite severe illness,” Bonnie Henry said in a media briefing streamed by Global News on Tuesday.

Health officials in the province have opened an investigation to understand the source of the outbreak. Around three dozen contacts of the teen have been tested, and all have been negative. “The source of exposure is very likely to be an animal or bird and is being investigated by BC’s chief veterinarian and public health teams,” health officials noted in the announcement over the weekend. The teen was reportedly exposed to pets, including dogs, cats, and reptiles, but testing so far has been negative on them.

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