Avian influenza virus detected in dairy cows

he bird flu virus, The virus, which affects millions of birds both domestically and in the wild around the world, has been found in cattle. The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service confirmed this.

They explained in a statement that after collecting samples of unpasteurized milk some dairy farms Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detected in Kansas and Texas.

However, the department clarified: Currently No changes found in the virus This makes one think it is more easily transmitted to humans. “The risk to the public currently remains low,” they added. They are conducting additional testing and corresponding sequencing of the virus genome to better understand the situation.

Furthermore, they clarified in the statement that the fact that the virus has spread to cows does not mean that the milk they produce poses a risk to human health. On the one hand, owners are obliged to destroy any products derived from infected animals. They can only sell milk from healthy individuals.

On the other hand, they clarify: “Studies have shown that pasteurization can inactivate bacteria and viruses, such as influenza viruses, in milk. Any milk entering interstate commerce needs to be pasteurized.”

But the fact that the avian influenza virus has spread to cattle has also begun Several questions arise among those who have studied this microorganism.Gregory Gray, an epidemiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in the US, told the news portal science To them, this is a worrying fact.

reason? “We’ve recently seen infections in goats, and we’ve also seen wildlife affected by the most pathogenic forms of avian influenza, including rare infections in carnivores: bears and wolves. Who knows what’s going to happen next? It’s disturbing. We This needs to be figured out because if the virus continues to change, it could spread to other species, including humans. It could already be in humans. We just have to keep our finger on the pulse. If we don’t work with agriculture, we don’t It will be very clear what is being spread,” he told us science.

Currently, there are still several issues that need to be resolved. One of them has to do with how cows are infected, and apparently cows can develop gastrointestinal disease after being infected with the virus. This may be due to the presence of migratory birds on the farms where these livestock are raised. Infected samples may contaminate water or its food.

But while the issue has attracted attention, those who study bird flu are also calling for calm. “There is no reason to panic yet. Stacey L. Schultz-Cherry, a virologist and influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, told The New York Times that this appears to be another case of influenza. An indirect incident resulting from contact with a diseased wild bird.

The current outbreak began in Europe in 2020 and is caused by a new virus called H5N1.

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