NIH: H5N1 viruses in dairy cows may facilitate infection, transmission in mammals
'Bovine H5N1 viruses may differ from previous H5N1 viruses and that these viruses may possess features that could facilitate infection and transmission among mammals'
— CoronaHeadsUp (@CoronaHeadsUp) July 8, 2024
It's like H5N1 is throwing out as many red flags as it can, trying its best to warn us. We may be sleepwalking into another pandemic, the consequences of which are unpredictable.
Study paywalled unfortunately. You should be following @thijskuiken if you aren't already, BTW. https://t.co/AZIkLHJTQ7
— Ryan Hisner (@LongDesertTrain) July 8, 2024
Is it too late to drive #H5N1 #birdflu out of cows? Some experts fear the answer is yes, @sciencecohen reports. https://t.co/FfbN5eoSac
— Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 (@HelenBranswell) July 3, 2024
Worth reading the whole article:
More than 3 months after the first reported H5N1 avian influenza outbreak at a U.S. dairy farm, some researchers are starting to wonder whether the virus is here to stay.
The U.S. government says it, with the help of the dairy industry, is working diligently to prevent that outcome. “We believe if we can stop the movements [of infected cattle], improve the biosecurity, and then help the producers … we can eliminate this virus,” Rosemary Sifford, chief veterinary officer of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), said at a 25 June webinar organized by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
But given the lack of cooperation from the industry and what many see as a lackluster government response, other scientists are doubtful. Sifford’s upbeat outlook “really surprised” veterinarian Michelle Kromm, another presenter at the webinar. “None of what they’ve done publicly from a policy standpoint would indicate that they’re trying to eliminate this,” says Kromm, who was the top turkey vet at Hormel Foods during a devastating H5N1 outbreak in poultry a decade ago. “To me, all stars are aligning to say we’ve accepted that this is endemic.”…
In laboratory experiments, Beer and coworkers recently infected cows with the virus to better understand infection of the udder, which USDA has concluded is the main route of transmission as the virus moves between cows on milking equipment. If this is accurate, more aggressively disinfecting the gear between cows could have a major impact.
Cardona, Kromm, and others, however, think eliminating the virus is no longer a realistic goal. Instead, they argue, launching a vaccination scheme for cows could limit the illness in infected animals and possibly slow spread. But USDA has yet to endorse the idea, even though vaccinemakers have begun to make and test potential products. One concern is that other countries may become reluctant to import dairy products from vaccinated cows. Another hurdle is psychological: Launching a vaccination program means “admitting that this is now endemic in a domestic animal population,” Kromm says…
Covid infections are growing in nearly all states — with the sharpest increases in the West, according to CDC data. The FLiRT and LB.1 variants are most common. https://t.co/aFK2F45IMi
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) July 3, 2024
COVID-19 Coronavirus (& H5N1) Updates: July 10, 2024Post + Comments (31)
