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Bird flu found in cattle; experts warn of risks to humans, other mammals

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The H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu, mutated to infect dairy cows for the first time, according to reports. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said eight states experienced bird flu outbreaks in cattle, while 48 reported outbreaks in poultry and 50 faced outbreaks in wild birds.

So, what are the implications for humans?

The CDC said that the risk of bird flu transmission to humans remains low. Since 2022, the CDC reported two human cases of H5N1 in the U.S.

In early April, the CDC disclosed that a Texas cattle farmer contracted the virus after close contact with an infected dairy cow.

In response, the American Association of Bovine Practitioners, which represents hundreds of cattle veterinarians, urged against using the term “bird flu in cattle.” The group argued that the disease in cattle differs significantly than in birds and people should treat it accordingly.

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) chief sounded the alarm, labeling bird flu in cattle as “an enormous concern.” This is because of the virus’s evolving nature and its potential to infect mammals closer to humans.

H5N1 doesn’t currently spread from person to person. However, health experts expressed concerns over its potential severity if it were to mutate and infect more humans. Since 2003, there have been 889 human cases of H5N1 which resulted in 463 deaths, a 52% fatality rate.

Infectious disease experts warn of the pandemic potential of the disease as it jumps to more mammals, including dairy cows, and could mutate further to infect humans.

The WHO said it has a vaccine template ready if the virus mutates to infect a large number of humans.

Scientists initially detected H5N1 in birds in 1996. The virus has since infected and killed hundreds of millions of birds globally. It has also been found in various mammals, including squirrels, polar bears, skunks, sea lions, and now, dairy cows.

To mitigate risks, the CDC recommended avoiding consumption of raw or undercooked food, as well as raw milk and cheese.

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[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE H-5-N-1 VIRUS – ALSO KNOWN AS BIRD FLU – HAS MADE THE JUMP TO DAIRY COWS FOR THE FIRST TIME.

 

ACCORDING TO THE CDC – CURRENTLY, 8 STATES ARE EXPERIENCING BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS IN CATTLE, 48 ARE EXPERIENCING BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS IN POULTRY, AND 50 ARE EXPERIENCING BIRD FLU IN WILD BIRDS.

 

SO, WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN FOR HUMANS?

 

THE CDC SAYS – CURRENTLY BIRD FLU RISK TO HUMANS REMAINS LOW.

 

THE AGENCY SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN TWO HUMAN H5N1 CASES REPORTED IN THE U-S SINCE 2022.

 

EARLIER THIS MONTH – THE AGENCY REPORTED A TEXAS CATTLE FARMER CONTRACTED THE VIRUS AFTER COMING INTO CLOSE CONTACT WITH AN INFECTED DAIRY COW.

 

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF BOVINE PRACTITIONERS REALLY DOESN’T WANT BIRD FLU AFFECTING ITS BOTTOM LINE AND HURTING IT’S BUSINESS.

 

THE ASSOCIATION – COMPRISED OF HUNDREDS OF CATTLE VETERINARIANS – SAID  IT WANTS PEOPLE TO PEOPLE STOP USING THE TERMINOLOGY “BIRD FLU IN CATTLE.”

 

THE ORGANIZATION RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING H5N1 FOUND IN DAIRY COWS SHOULDN’T BE CONSIDERED “BIRD FLU IN CATTLE” BECAUSE “THE DISEASE SYNDROME IN CATTLE DOES NOT CAUSE HIGH MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY AS IT DOES IN BIRDS.”

 

HOWEVER – THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION CHIEF IS SOUNDING THE ALARM CALLING BIRD FLU IN CATTLE “AN ENORMOUS CONCERN” AS THE VIRUS EVOLVES AND INCREASINGLY GETS CLOSER TO HUMANS BY INFECTING OTHER MAMMALS.  

 

SCIENTISTS AT THE W-H-O SAY – RIGHT NOW – H5N1 DOESN’T SPREAD FROM PERSON TO PERSON BUT – WITH THE VIRUS CHANGING – THEY’RE WORRIED ABOUT HOW DEADLY BIRD FLU CAN BE FOR HUMANS.

 

ACCORDING TO THE AGENCY – SINCE 2003, THERE’VE BEEN 889 HUMAN CASES OF H5N1 AND OF THOSE – 463 PEOPLE DIED – GIVING THE VIRUS A 52% FATALITY RATE IN HUMANS.

 

INFECTIOUS DISEASE EXPERTS SAY THE DISEASE HAS PANDEMIC POTENTIAL – AS BIRD FLU JUMPS TO MORE MAMMALS AND COULD MUTATE TO INFECT MORE HUMANS.

 

IF THAT HAPPENS – THE W-H-O SAYS IT HAS A TEMPLATE TO MAKE A VACCINE TO HELP STOP THE SPREAD – SHOULD THE NEED ARISE.

 

H5N1 WAS FIRST DETECTED IN BIRDS IN 1996 – AND HAS INFECTED AND KILLED HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF BIRDS ACROSS THE WORLD.

 

IT’S ALSO INFECTED MAMMALS LIKE SQUIRRELS, POLAR BEARS, SKUNKS, SEA LIONS – AND NOW DAIRY COWS.

 

THE CDC RECOMMENDS PEOPLE AVOID CONSUMING RAW OR UNDERCOOKED FOOD – AND TO STEER CLEAR OF RAW MILK AND CHEESE.