Bird Flu in Cattle Should You Be Concerned?

[Social Media]

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently launched a wastewater tracking dashboard to monitor the spread of bird flu, or H5N1, which has now been detected in cattle across nine states. Over 40 cattle herds have confirmed cases of this virus, raising concerns about its potential impact on both animal and human health.

 

Tracking the Virus

The new CDC dashboard will track all influenza A viruses from 600 wastewater treatment sites nationwide. This effort aims to help public health officials identify areas where the virus is most aggressively spreading. During the summer months, flu viruses typically circulate at very low levels, so higher-than-average levels of influenza A in wastewater can indicate unusual activity. Data from 189 sampling sites, including those in Illinois and Alaska, have shown higher-than-average levels of an influenza A virus as of May 4.

 

What is Bird Flu?

Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is an infection caused by influenza viruses that primarily spread in birds but can infect other animals and humans. According to the Cleveland Clinic, humans can contract bird flu through contact with infected animals' body fluids, such as saliva, respiratory droplets, or feces. It can also be transmitted if humans inhale dust particles in animal habitats or touch contaminated surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose, or mouth. Those working closely with poultry, waterfowl, and livestock are at the highest risk of infection.

 

Spread to Cattle

The recent spread of bird flu to cattle has puzzled researchers. Jenna Guthmiller, an assistant professor of immunology and microbiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, suggests that milking machines may have carried the virus. High levels of the virus have been found in the udders of infected cows, indicating that the infection is mainly restricted to dairy cows. "Influenza A has never been recorded like this in cows before. There’s the occasional cow infected, but they are not a natural host for influenza A viruses, so this is really quite shocking to the field," Guthmiller said.

 

Outbreak Locations

Bird flu has been detected in cattle herds across nine states: Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Ohio, South Dakota, and Texas. In Texas, researchers at Stanford University and Emory University found high amounts of bird flu viral RNA in archived wastewater samples from three sites, indicating the virus's presence since late February, before the first confirmed case in cattle.

 

Human Impact and Concerns

Despite the spread in cattle, the risk to humans remains low. Only one confirmed human case of bird flu has been reported this year, involving a person in Texas who had direct exposure to infected dairy cattle and experienced only mild symptoms. The CDC is monitoring 260 people who have been exposed to infected dairy cows, with 33 individuals tested for the virus. "Right now, the H5N1 bird flu situation remains primarily an animal health issue. However, the CDC is watching this situation closely and taking routine preparedness and prevention measures in case this virus changes to pose a greater human health risk," the CDC stated.

 

Symptoms of Bird Flu in Humans

The symptoms of bird flu in humans can range from mild to severe, including eye redness, flu-like symptoms, pneumonia, high fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Less common symptoms can include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or seizures.

 

Food Safety Concerns

Bird flu has been found in high levels in the raw, unpasteurized milk of infected cows. The CDC warns that consuming raw milk could theoretically lead to infection if the virus contacts receptors in the nose, mouth, and throat, or if inhaled into the lungs. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC consider raw milk a risky food due to potential contamination with harmful germs. Despite these warnings, sales of raw milk have increased since the virus was confirmed in cattle.

However, pasteurized milk and properly cooked poultry and eggs are considered safe to consume. The FDA assures that the pasteurization process kills the virus, and the likelihood of infected poultry or eggs entering the food supply is very low due to USDA safeguards, including testing and inspection programs.

 

While the spread of bird flu to cattle is concerning and warrants close monitoring, the risk to the general public remains low. The CDC and other health agencies are taking preventive measures and monitoring the situation closely. By following safety guidelines and consuming properly prepared food, the public can minimize their risk of infection.

 

 

 

Credit: The Hill 2024-05-18

 

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[thaibeachlovers]

Fear the government response more than the disease.

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Fear the government response more than the disease.

Of course you do.

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

Has Pegasus been warned about this?

[CanadaSam]

Read through most of this, before realizing it has nothing to do with Thailand, so why is it on this forum!

[richard_smith237]

3 minutes ago, CanadaSam said:

Read through most of this, before realizing it has nothing to do with Thailand, so why is it on this forum!

 

You want to know why this article is in the World News section ?

 

... Or have you made a mistake, let your foot of the clutch too early and lurched into an unnecessary whinge... 

 

 

 

[CanadaSam]

A thousand apologies, good Sir, entirely my mistake!

[RichardColeman]

Nothing like a good scare disease to get Biden in the bunker again for the next election

[RayC]

34 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

Nothing like a good scare disease to get Biden in the bunker again for the next election

 

Biden's going after the bird and cattle vote?

 

(No sheep quips please. Thank you).

[GroveHillWanderer]

11 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Fear the government response more than the disease.

Oh, I would say you should fear the disease way more. It has a case fatality rate of over 50% in humans.

 

Quote

From 2003 to 2024, 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported worldwide from 23 countries, according to the WHO, putting the case fatality rate at 52%.

 

Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is ‘enormous concern’, says WHO

[thaibeachlovers]

10 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Oh, I would say you should fear the disease way more. It has a case fatality rate of over 50% in humans.

 

 

Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is ‘enormous concern’, says WHO

Like most common diseases it probably takes the unhealthy, the obese, the smokers, etc.

 

Nature was designed to ensure that only the fittest survive, but humans have kept the unfit alive which is why we are in an epidemic of obesity and lifestyle ill health.

[thaibeachlovers]

11 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Oh, I would say you should fear the disease way more. It has a case fatality rate of over 50% in humans.

 

 

Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is ‘enormous concern’, says WHO

As we are, IMO, overpopulated by about 5 billion humans, it may go some way to returning us to a population that can avoid destroying our environment.

 

I say that as a person that would most likely die if I got it. I thought I might get to pass over from the covid thing, but I only got that after I had the vaccination and it was no worse than a minor cold.

Edited May 18 by thaibeachlovers

[Fortean1]

About ten years ago the GoT (Government of Thailand) blocked the uncooked turkeys from America, such as Butterball, basing it on a single outbreak of some type of bird flu on a turkey farm/ranch in Illinois.  This helps to protect the Thai turkey farmers.  My friend/mentor, retired Air America pilot Les S., stopped buying as he likes to prepare his own stuffing inside the turkey.  I also stopped buying.

 

Terry, a few miles south of Hua Hin.

[cowellandrew]

I will start worrying when the cows start flying!

At the moment its wild elephants in the tapioca I have to worry about!

[placeholder]

On 5/18/2024 at 5:05 PM, RichardColeman said:

Nothing like a good scare disease to get Biden in the bunker again for the next election

Obsessed much?

[MicroB]

22 hours ago, GroveHillWanderer said:

Oh, I would say you should fear the disease way more. It has a case fatality rate of over 50% in humans.

 

 

Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is ‘enormous concern’, says WHO

 

Likely high, but probably not as high as that

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18477756/

 

H5N1 infection is probably under reported.

 

A Thai study in a village population suggested seropositivity at about 9%. Thailand has reported about 20 deaths, with 12 from 17 identified cases in 2004 (CFR 70.6%). But deaths are likely grossly underestimated as well.

 

Infection in cattle might take this virus into a new direction, for better or worse. It might become more or less infectious to humans, or the virulence might be worse orless. Influenza originated in birds, and seems to have made the jump into humans about 2000-2500  years ago in Greece, about when Greeks started raising pigs in stys. Flu then stayed relatively benign until the 19th Century, first with Russian flu.

 

 

H5N1 going from birds into cattle doesn't make it more likely that birds can infect humans, but that the virus has another route of transmission. Cattle possess both human-like and bird-like sialic acid receptors, so, on the face of it, this ought to result in a virus more likely to infect humans. So its important to eradicate this virus in cattle before it gets any further. The virus to date has been found in dairy cattle, infecting the teats. You are going to hear a lot more about FLI Riems in Germany, as they work to study infection in cattle.

 

[still kicking]

On 5/18/2024 at 6:05 PM, RichardColeman said:

Nothing like a good scare disease to get Biden in the bunker again for the next election

What does that has to do with Biden?

[thaibeachlovers]

5 hours ago, still kicking said:

What does that has to do with Biden?

His minders are probably working on a way to make it Trump's fault.

[riclag]

On 5/18/2024 at 7:13 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Fear the government response more than the disease.

Moo !

[john donson]

we are pushed to go eat bill's fake meat full of seed oils that cause ... not health

[johng]

10 minutes ago, john donson said:

we are pushed to go eat bill's fake meat

And ze bugs don't forget ze bugs !!!

 

https://news.sky.com/story/disgust-factor-must-be-overcome-if-planet-friendly-insect-food-to-become-mainstream-13135255

 

"The disgust factor is one of most important challenges to be overcome," said Dr Sharps.

"After all, there may be eventually no choice with climate change and projected global population growth."

[GroveHillWanderer]

On 5/19/2024 at 8:05 PM, MicroB said:

Likely high, but probably not as high as that

 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18477756/

 

H5N1 infection is probably under reported.

 

A Thai study in a village population suggested seropositivity at about 9%. Thailand has reported about 20 deaths, with 12 from 17 identified cases in 2004 (CFR 70.6%). But deaths are likely grossly underestimated as well.

 

Infection in cattle might take this virus into a new direction, for better or worse. It might become more or less infectious to humans, or the virulence might be worse orless. Influenza originated in birds, and seems to have made the jump into humans about 2000-2500  years ago in Greece, about when Greeks started raising pigs in stys. Flu then stayed relatively benign until the 19th Century, first with Russian flu.

 

H5N1 going from birds into cattle doesn't make it more likely that birds can infect humans, but that the virus has another route of transmission. Cattle possess both human-like and bird-like sialic acid receptors, so, on the face of it, this ought to result in a virus more likely to infect humans. So its important to eradicate this virus in cattle before it gets any further. The virus to date has been found in dairy cattle, infecting the teats. You are going to hear a lot more about FLI Riems in Germany, as they work to study infection in cattle.

 

You say that the CFR is probably not as high as estimated, with the apparent rationale that, "H5N1 infection is probably under reported," but then say, "deaths are likely grossly underestimated as well.". So wouldn't those two things tend to cancel each other out?

 

Also, your post goes on to point out that because H5N1 is now being found in cows, that "ought to result in a virus more likely to infect humans."

 

Even the article you link to, states that, "the real H5N1 CF rate should be closer to 14-33%."

 

Colour me not very reassured.

Edited May 21 by GroveHillWanderer

[johng]

On 5/20/2024 at 12:07 PM, riclag said:

Moo !

 

Swine Flu  ???   ha ha wrong  species

Mad cow   AKA  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

Edited May 21 by johng
wrong species

[riclag]

1 hour ago, johng said:

 

Swine Flu  ???   ha ha wrong  species

Mad cow   AKA  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

What does a cow say!

Sorry for the confusion mate

[johng]

Its  just seemed to rhyme  swine flu...moo ! 😋