Livestock

Bird flu in cows - is it inching closer to humans?

Thu, 2024-05-23 10:19 — mike kraft

Avian flu is in cows in the US - is it inching closer to humans? The H5N1 strain of avian flu has been around since 1996, but until now its been largely confined to animals. But it has now jumped to cattle in America and some think it means we are inching towards eventual human-to-human infection, with potentially serious consequences. BBC News

... the (spread of the virus between states seems to be down to the movement of infected cows across state lines. ...

Reporting and surveillance of cattle movement in the US is poor compared with the UK and Europe where the BSE outbreaks of the mid-nineties led to all cows having to be tagged.

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2nd U.S. farmworker diagnosed with bird flu, in Michigan

Wed, 2024-05-22 18:15 — mike kraft

Michigan farmworker diagnosed with bird flu, becoming 2nd US case tied to dairy cows A Michigan farmworker has been diagnosed with bird flu in what is the second human case associated with an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows. AP News

The male worker had been in contact with cows at a farm with infected animals. He experienced mild eye symptoms and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan health officials said in announcing the case Wednesday.

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Why raw milk sales surging when it is more dangerous than ever because of bird flu

Thu, 2024-05-16 19:12 — mike kraft

Raw milk is more dangerous than ever. So why are sales surging? It has everything to do with Americans’ distrust in government. Keren Landman, MD Vox

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U.S. Raw milk sales rise despite bird flu warnings

Wed, 2024-05-15 10:17 — mike kraft

People are drinking raw milk 'like crazy' as sales rise despite bird flu warnings Although raw milk is considered one of the "riskiest" foods people can consume, social media influencers heavily promote unpasteurized products. NBC News

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Since March 25, when the bird flu virus was confirmed in U.S. cattle for the first time, weekly sales of raw cow’s milk have ticked up 21% to as much as 65% compared with the same periods a year ago, according to the market research firm NielsenIQ.

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Experts are concerned the United States is too limited in its testing of the spread of bird flu among cattle.

Wed, 2024-05-15 09:50 — mike kraft

How fast is bird flu spreading in US cows? ‘We have no idea’

Avian flu is spreading rapidly among cattle, but public health and infectious disease experts are concerned the United States is too limited in its testing, leaving an incomplete picture of the virus’s spread.

The threat to the general public is currently low, health officials say, and the country’s milk supply is safe. Just one person has been infected. ...

But the outbreak is widespread; officials have found the virus in 42 herds across nine states. Dairy farm workers are at risk every time they are exposed to potentially infected cattle, and viral mutations could cause an outbreak, experts warn.

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Bird flu: Five things to know about bird flu

Mon, 2024-05-13 10:05 — mike kraft

Five things to know about bird flu

There have been major outbreaks around the world in the recent past, including four from 2014 to 2017, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

So what makes this time different, and at what point should you be concerned?

Here are five things you should know about bird flu.

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US government announces new financial incentives for dairy farmers to stem the spread of bird flu in cattle

Fri, 2024-05-10 14:23 — mike kraft

US government announces new financial incentives for farms to stem the spread of bird flu in dairy cattle | CNN The US Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture announced on Friday a new plan to pay dairy farmers and farm workers to take steps to prevent the spread of H5N1 bird flu. Brenda Goodman CNN

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Human, Animal and Plant Diseases are being fueled by enviornmental changes--study

Fri, 2024-05-10 11:38 — mike kraft

Several large-scale, human-driven changes to the planet — including climate change, the loss of biodiversity and the spread of invasive species — are making infectious diseases more dangerous to people, animals and plants, according to a new study.

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