as avian flu continue to spread Regarding cattle herds in the United States, WebMD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) teamed up on Thursday to provide a live broadcast on the outbreak.
The presentation, “WebMD and CDC Presents, Avian Influenza in 2024: What You Need to Know,” was moderated by Neha Pathak, MD, Chief Physician Editor, WebMD, Atlanta, Georgia.
Eric Deeble, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Congressional Relations in Washington, D.C., said the USDA received the first reports of illness in dairy cows in early March.
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Test results showed that these cows were infected with the H5N1 influenza virus, commonly known as the H5N1 influenza virus. bird flu or bird flu.
“Any new cattle disease is of great concern to us,” Dibble said at a news conference.
As avian influenza continues to spread among U.S. cattle, WebMD and the CDC released an update Thursday. (Getty Images)
“The H5N1 virus in cattle is a relatively mild disease. With supportive care, they usually recover within two to three weeks,” he said.
“Their milk production has returned to normal and they appear healthy and continue to nurse as they did before they became ill.”
“Any new disease in cattle is of great concern to us.”
Deeble said that so far, the USDA has detected the H5N1 virus in 49 dairy herds in nine states.
“To put that into perspective, it’s about 1 percent of the dairy farms in the affected states, and about 1/10 of 1 percent nationally,” he said.
On April 29, a federal order issued by the USDA went into effect restricting the movement of lactating cattle to monitor and compile H5N1 test results.
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“Under this order, dairy farmers are required to test their cows before moving them across state lines so that we know the cows are not infected with H5N1 and do not pose a risk to any new herds,” Deeble said.
The order also requires that any test results that detect the presence of H5N1 be reported to USDA laboratories.
Experts say there is currently no food risk
Dibble assured those listening Thursday that there are no risks in consuming milk and meat.
“I can say without reservation that our commercial milk and meat supplies are safe,” he said. “Animals with H5N1 or any other animal disease should not be allowed into our food supply at any time.”
He added, “The USDA has never detected H5N1 in meat sold at retail.”
The USDA received the first reports of sick dairy cows in early March, health officials said. (iStock)
Deeble noted that testing has confirmed that cooking meat to an internal temperature of 155 degrees Fahrenheit or above is sufficient to eliminate all traces of the virus.
When it comes to milk, he said, the pasteurization process ensures it’s safe to drink.
“Our milk is treated at high temperatures for a short period of time to inactivate the H5N1 virus and other bacteria and viruses that can make people sick,” he said.
Risk of transmission to humans
Nirav D. Shah, MD, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said the overall risk to the public from contracting avian influenza is low.
“Part of the reason is that people rarely get the virus bird flu virus — but it has happened,” he told a news conference.
“When this does occur, it is usually through direct contact with an infected animal without taking protective measures, such as not wearing gloves, masks or goggles.”
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In April, the CDC reported a human case of avian influenza in a dairy worker in Texas, Shah said.
“The only symptoms this person had were red eyes, or conjunctivitis,” he said. “After testing positive, the person was provided [with] one antiviral drugs Thankfully made a full recovery. There have been no new or additional human cases since this individual was identified in Texas.
Other symptoms to watch for include cough, fever, muscle pain and fatigue, Shah said.
Experts say there are no risks associated with drinking commercially purchased milk. (iStock)
Shah said that while the overall risk to humans is low, the CDC is taking “aggressive steps” to ensure Americans stay healthy and informed.
“Currently, one of our biggest areas of focus is the safety and protection of farm workers, particularly ensuring workers have access to personal protective equipment… such as gloves, goggles or masks, which can help reduce their risk of infection if affected. working around dairy cows.
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The CDC is also working with local health departments to ensure sick farmers are tested for avian influenza and to monitor their conditions.
“In addition, scientists at CDC labs are keeping a close eye on avian influenza viruses to see if there are any changes in their DNA that might tell us whether these viruses are able to jump more easily between people. transmission and, more importantly, whether they may lead to more severe disease,” Shah added.
One doctor said that while the overall risk to humans is low, the CDC is taking “aggressive steps” to ensure Americans stay healthy and informed. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Picture/File Photo)
While the risk to the general public “remains low” at this time, doctors have provided guidance for certain groups who may be at higher risk.
“If you happen to work around animals, whether they’re chickens, cows or pigs, and you develop signs and symptoms that could be influenza, it’s important to make sure you call healthcare provider and talk to them.
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The current situation with avian influenza is different from the past COVID-19 early days“, Shah told a press conference.
“We’re in a very different position because of the investment we’ve made over two decades in planning and preparing for things like influenza,” he said.
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“After extensive planning and preparation, the drugs are in place.”
Shah noted that if these drugs are given early, they can lessen the severity and shorten the duration of the disease, as was the case with the Texas farmer.
He added: “This is just one of the many ways in which influenza and bird flu are different than many of us remember from four years ago.”
Vaccines and prevention
Experts point out that traditional influenza vaccines do not provide much protection against avian influenza.
“Even though they’re…basically the same virus, they’re different enough that we want everyone to get a flu shot, but it doesn’t protect you very well,” Shah said.
“It might do some work, but not enough to get you to the bank.”
“We are not recommending that anyone get vaccinated at this time,” a doctor said during a Thursday briefing. (Julian Stratenschulte/dpa)
Dr. David Boucher, director of the Division of Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response at ASPR in Washington, D.C., spoke about the possible need for bird flu vaccine.
“We are not recommending that anyone get vaccinated yet,” he said.
Through the National Influenza Vaccine Program, ASPR works with health partner Identify flu viruses that are “a little different than what we’ve seen in the past,” Boucher said.
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He pointed out that for a new type of virus, the team developed a “construction module” of the vaccine.
“The good news is that the system is already working the way we hoped it would, and if we need a vaccine we have an initial supply of the basic materials needed. [H5N1] Viruses,” he said.
To monitor potential spread, the CDC is watching for increases in emergency room visits or lab tests that could indicate “clusters of cases,” one doctor said. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
In this case, ASPR could work with seasonal flu vaccine manufacturers to produce it “at scale,” Boucher said.
Boucher also emphasized the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE) — such as gloves, goggles, face shields and N95 masks — for agricultural workers who may be in close proximity. infected animals.
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To monitor potential spread, Shah said the CDC is watching for increases in emergency room visits or lab tests that could indicate a “cluster of cases.”
“We’re also currently studying wastewater to see if there are changes there,” he said.
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Shah added that people can learn about the latest developments in avian influenza from the CDC, USDA, FDA and other trusted sources.
“We should be vigilant, not panicked.”
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