Category: Avian Influenza
Tracking the U.S. bird flu outbreak has been hard. It’s about to get harder
STAT Health systems will likely struggle to differentiate the virus from flu-like illnesses If one can point to anything good about the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle — to be honest, there’s nothing good about this situation — it’s the timing. Transmission of the virus through U.S. dairy herds took off when last winter’s […]
Oct 29, 2024
A human isolate of bovine H5N1 is transmissible and lethal in animal models
Nature The outbreak of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5N1 subtype (HPAI H5N1) in dairy cows in the US has so far resulted in spillover infections of at least thirteen farm workers1-3, who presented with mild respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis, and one individual with no known animal exposure who was hospitalized […]
Oct 29, 2024
Bird flu infects four in Washington state; CDC deploys team
The Hill Bird flu has possibly infected four agricultural workers in Washington state, according to the Washington State Department of Health. In a press release Sunday, the Washington State Department of Health said the “workers tested presumptively positive for avian influenza after working with infected poultry at a commercial egg farm in Franklin County.” Franklin County is […]
Oct 23, 2024
Bird flu infects flock of 800,000 poultry in southeast Washington
Washington State Standard Bird flu has infected a commercial flock of about 800,000 fowl at an egg farm in southeast Washington, the state’s Department of Agriculture said this week. It’s the first detection in Washington this year of highly pathogenic avian influenza in a commercial poultry operation and is one of about four dozen known […]
Oct 22, 2024
Main zoo in North Macedonian capital shut down after avian flu case detected
ABC News The main zoo in North Macedonia’s capital Skopje was closed Saturday after authorities confirmed the presence of a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu. According to a press statement, the flu was detected in a goose that died in a pond. “Laboratory results confirmed a case of the presence of a pathogenic strain […]
Oct 22, 2024
How did H5N1 bird flu get introduced to California’s dairy industry?
LA Times Experts say it was bound to happen: The H5N1 bird flu that ravaged dairy herds in 13 states was inevitably going to arrive in California. But exactly how it happened is still being investigated by the state. However, Anja Raudabaugh — the chief executive of Western State Dairies, a trade organization for California dairy farmers […]
Oct 22, 2024
Bird flu cases in people quietly tick up, with dozens reported across 6 states
NBC News Four cases in Washington farmworkers are the latest in a drumbeat of human infections across the U.S. as the virus continues to spread among farm animals. Four new cases of avian influenza were detected in farmworkers in Washington state this week, the latest in a drumbeat of human infections cropping up across the […]
Oct 22, 2024
Washington State: Four Washington farm workers suspected to have bird flu
American Hospital Assn Four workers at a commercial egg farm in Washington tested presumptively positive for H5N1 bird flu, the Washington State Department of Health announced Oct. 20. These are the first presumed human cases in the state. The individuals experienced mild symptoms and Benton-Franklin Health District officials have forwarded test samples to the Centers for Disease […]
Oct 22, 2024
California: Merced County health officials confirm human case of Bird Flu
ABC News Bird Flu cases continue to rise in the Valley, as Merced County has confirmed its first human case. Public health officials say the person had direct exposure to infected cattle at a dairy farm in Merced County. Everyone with known exposure to the diseased dairy cows is being monitored for symptoms. Health officials […]
Oct 22, 2024
Is it time to freak out about bird flu?
STAT The answer is not as straightforward as one might like. If you’re aware of the H5N1 bird flu outbreak in U.S. dairy cattle — you may have seen some headlines or read something on social media — perhaps you are wondering what the fuss is about. Yes, there have been nearly a couple dozen human […]
Oct 16, 2024