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Wednesday, May 01, 2024

ZOONOSIS

Avian flu crosses species, infecting cats and cattle in Texas and Kansas

By Dr. Chinta Sidharthan May 1 2024 Reviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.

In a recent study published in the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Emerging Infectious Disease Journal, a team of scientists reported the spread of the highly pathogenic hemagglutinin 5 neuraminidase 1 (H5N1) avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b among cats and dairy cattle in the states of Texas and Kansas.

Research: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus Infection in Domestic Dairy Cattle and Cats, United States, 2024. Image Credit: felipe caparros / Shutterstock

Background

The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza viruses have long been a threat to poultry and wild bird populations worldwide. They have also been a cause for concern in recent years because of their ability to infect various mammalian species. North America experienced an outbreak of the Eurasian strain clade 2.3.4.4b of the H5N1 virus that has continued into this year, with multiple spillover events reported among marine and terrestrial mammals.

The current avian influenza outbreak also poses more serious concerns since the clade has also been detected in severe cases of infections among humans in Chile and Ecuador. Recent reports from northern Texas, northeastern New Mexico, and southwestern Kansas reported a disease among dairy cattle that affected the quality and appearance of milk for a duration of approximately two weeks. Incidents of death were also reported from these states among domestic cats and wild birds, indicating a potential spillover of the avian influenza virus into cats and cattle.

About the study

In the present study, the researchers described the various characterization analyses performed to detect the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus infecting domestic cats and cattle in the states of Texas and Kansas. These tests were performed at the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Iowa State University.

Milk and tissue samples were provided to the laboratory from cattle exhibiting clinical signs such as an abrupt decrease in milk production, thickening and yellowing of milk, and decreased rumination and food intake. The tissue samples were from cows that were either euthanized or died naturally. Additionally, the laboratory also performed postmortem analyses on two domesticated cats that had died in a dairy farm in north Texas after being fed milk from the sick cows.

Histopathology analyses were performed on the cerebellum, cerebrum, eye, heart, kidney, liver, lung, lymph node, and spleen obtained during the postmortem analysis of the cats. Additionally, paraffin-embedded tissues from the cats and cattle were processed for immunohistochemistry analyses using antibodies against the primary influenza A virus.

Milk samples diluted with phosphate-buffered saline, homogenates of brains, mammary glands, lymph nodes, spleen, and lungs, as well as samples of serum, rumen content, and ocular fluid, were processed for viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) isolation. Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was performed to screen these samples for influenza A virus RNA, and only those samples that had cycle threshold values above 40 were considered positive.

Additional rRT-PCR methods were then used to analyze the H5 subtype and test for the H5 clade 2.3.4.4b in the samples that were positive for influenza A virus. Furthermore, the researchers also conducted genomic sequencing for two tissue samples from the cats and two milk samples. The data obtained was analyzed to assemble eight segments of influenza A virus sequences. Of these, the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase sequences were used for phylogenetic analyses.

Mammary gland lesions in cattle in study of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b virus infection in domestic dairy cattle and cats, United States, 2024. A, B) Mammary gland tissue sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. A) Arrowheads indicate segmental loss within open secretory mammary alveoli. Original magnification ×40. B) Arrowheads indicate epithelial degeneration and necrosis lining alveoli with intraluminal sloughing. Asterisk indicates intraluminal neutrophilic inflammation. Original magnification ×400. C, D) Mammary gland tissue sections stained by using avian influenza A immunohistochemistry. C) Brown staining indicates lobular distribution of avian influenza A virus. Original magnification ×40. D) Brown staining indicates strong nuclear and intracytoplasmic immunoreactivity of intact and sloughed epithelial cells within mammary alveoli. Original magnification ×400.

Results

The results indicated systemic illness, viral shedding in milk, and reduced milk production observed in dairy cattle were due to infection from a strain of the H5N1 influenza A virus. This highly pathogenic avian influenza virus also resulted in the death of approximately half the cats that had consumed the milk from the sick cows. Furthermore, the histopathological analyses revealed lesions in the tissue samples from cats similar to those observed in tissue samples obtained from cats that presumably got infected after eating wild birds with avian influenza infection.

The only tissues from the infected cows that were positive in the immunohistochemistry analysis using antigens against the influenza A virus were mastitic mammary gland samples. However, the tissue samples from both cats revealed microscopic lesions indicative of systemic viral infection, such as lymphocytic meningoencephalitis involving neuronal necrosis and vasculitis, lymphoplasmacytic chorioretinitis with necrosis of ganglion cells, and many more clinical findings. Additionally, the brain, heart, lung, and retinal samples were positive for influenza A virus immunoreactivity.

The phylogenetic analyses using the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase sequences also revealed high similarity between the sequences from the milk samples and those from the cats. These sequences were also highly similar to published sequences for H5N1 viruses of clade 2.3.4.4b.

Conclusions

Overall, the results showed that domestic cats and dairy cattle were susceptible to the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus. Furthermore, viral shedding through milk increased the potential for the virus to get transmitted to other mammalian species. The recurrence of avian influenza outbreaks and the broadening of the host range are of growing concern, and surveillance of the virus in domesticated animal populations is essential to prevent the transmission of the virus across species.

Journal reference:

Burrough, E., Magstadt, D., Petersen, B., Timmermans, S., Gauger, P., Zhang, J., Siepker, C., Mainenti, M., Li, G., Thompson, A., Gorden, P., Plummer, P., & Main, R. (2024). Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Clade 2.3.4.4b Virus Infection in Domestic Dairy Cattle and Cats, United States, 2024. Emerging Infectious Disease Journal, 30(7). DOI: 10.3201/eid3007.240508, https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30/7/24-0508_article

Monday, April 29, 2024

Snake bites in Paraguay: An occupational health problem

Men of productive age working in the agricultural and livestock sectors are most affected, according to a study that analysed data between 2015 and 2021

Peer-Reviewed Publication

BARCELONA INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL HEALTH (ISGLOBAL)

Young men working in agricultural or livestock settings are the most affected by snakebites, according to research in Paraguay based on data from the last six years. The study, led by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), a centre supported by "la Caixa" Foundation, highlights the importance of collecting more and better data to estimate the true burden of this neglected disease.

Every year, between 80,000 and 140,000 people die from the bite of a venomous snake. In 2017, the WHO added poisoning by snakebite to the list of neglected tropical diseases, to give greater visibility to a public health problem for which there is not only a problem of access to anti-venom treatments, but also a lack of reliable data at global and national levels.

In the Americas, the vast majority of snakebite cases occur in eastern Paraguay and southeastern Brazil. In Paraguay, nearly 300,000 people live in areas where at least one species of venomous snake is present and more than three hours away from a medical centre.

"The problem is that there is a great lack of updated information on the burden of snakebites in the country," says Sofia Ardiles, ISGlobal researcher and first author of the study.

The research team analysed bite cases reported in Paraguay between 2015 and 2021, as well as socio-demographic, clinical and treatment information for each case. A total of 1651 bites were reported between 2015 and 2021 (an average of 235 cases per year). These figures are similar to those reported between 2004 and 2015, indicating that the incidence has remained stable. The regions with the highest number of cases are those that form part of the Gran Chaco, a geographical region that includes territories in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay, where ISGlobal is working with local partners to improve care for neglected diseases.

Men of productive age: most affected

Men of productive age (around 25 years old) account for almost 70% of cases, many of whom work in the agricultural or livestock sector. "This reinforces the notion that snakebite is an occupational disease," says Irene Losada, ISGlobal researcher and co-author of the study. Many of the bites occurred during the day, on farms or in homes, and during the rainy season. "Having a better idea of the context in which most bites occur can help us implement protective measures in the workplace," she adds.

In more than half of the cases, the snake responsible was not identified or documented, which can complicate choosing the most appropriate anti-venom. Fifteen percent of patients were treated more than six hours after the bite.

"We found that there is a lack of information on mortality, sequelae, adverse effects of treatment and patient management," says Ardiles. This underlines the importance of improving data collection to estimate the true human and social burden of this neglected disease.

The study was a joint effort with Paraguay’s Zoonosis and Rabies Control Centre, headed by Edgar Sanabria.

Reference

Ardiles-Ruesjas S, Sanabria E, Segovia Portillo VH, Jara Oroa L, de Egea V, Sequera G, Alonso-Padilla J, Losada I and Pinazo, MJ. Epidemiological and sociodemographic description of snakebite envenoming cases in Paraguay reported between 2015 and 2021. BMJ Public Health. 2024;2:e000359. doi:10.1136/bmjph-2023-000359

JOURNAL

BMJ Public Health

DOI

10.1136/bmjph-2023-000359

METHOD OF RESEARCH

Data/statistical analysis

SUBJECT OF RESEARCH

Not applicable

ARTICLE TITLE

Epidemiological and sociodemographic description of snakebite envenoming cases in Paraguay reported between 2015 and 2021

Friday, April 05, 2024

H5N1 ZOONOSIS

Bird flu pandemic in future? EU warns of potential spread to humans due to 'lack of immune defense’

Alert follows confirmation of rare human case in Texas

By Melissa Rudy Fox News
Published April 3, 2024

As avian influenza (bird flu) continues to spread among wild birds in the European Union, officials are warning of the potential for a future human pandemic.

On Wednesday, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) issued an alert noting that "transmission between bird and mammal species has been observed, particularly in fur animal farms, where outbreaks have been reported."

Although it is rare for infected birds to pass along the virus to humans, the agency warned that new strains could pose a danger in the future.

"These viruses continue to evolve globally, and with the migration of wild birds, new strains carrying potential mutations for mammalian adaptation could be selected," the alert stated.

"If avian A (H5N1) influenza viruses acquire the ability to spread efficiently among humans, large‐scale transmission could occur due to the lack of immune defenses against H5 viruses in humans."

As avian influenza (bird flu) continues to spread among wild birds in the European Union, officials are warning of the potential for a future human pandemic. (iStock)

In other words, humans don’t have immunity against bird flu — which means it could potentially spread quickly.

The flu has been found to spread between birds and mammals, the EFSA noted — "particularly in fur animal farms, where outbreaks have been reported."

To prevent the risk of a bird flu pandemic, the agency recommended taking steps to limit exposure and prevent the spread to mammals and humans.

"Key options for actions include enhancing surveillance targeting humans and animals, ensuring access to rapid diagnostics, promoting collaboration between animal and human sectors, and implementing preventive measures such as vaccination," the EFSA wrote.

"People with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. (iStock)

"Effective communication to different involved target audiences should be emphasized, as well as strengthening veterinary infrastructure, enforcing biosecurity measures at farms, and reducing wildlife contact with domestic animals."

The agency also called for "careful planning of poultry and fur animal farming," particularly in locations with large numbers of waterfowl (aquatic birds like ducks and geese).
Human cases in the U.S.

On Monday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that a person in Texas tested positive for H5N1 bird flu.

"This person had exposure to dairy cattle in Texas presumed to be infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses," the CDC’s statement said.

"The patient reported eye redness (consistent with conjunctivitis), as their only symptom, and is recovering. The patient was told to isolate and is being treated with an antiviral drug for flu."

The CDC said this is the second case of a human testing positive for H5N1 in the U.S., after a previous case was observed in Colorado in 2022.

"If avian A (H5N1) influenza viruses acquire the ability to spread efficiently among humans, large‐scale transmission could occur due to the lack of immune defenses against H5 viruses in humans," the European Food Safety Authority said. (iStock)

"This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low," it added.

"However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection."

"At present, it does not transmit readily from person to person."

The CDC said it is "working with state health departments to continue to monitor workers who may have been in contact with infected or potentially infected birds/animals and test those people who develop symptoms."

Human symptoms can range from mild (e.g., eye infection, upper respiratory symptoms) to severe illness (e.g., pneumonia), according to the CDC.
Infectious diseases expert weighs in

Erica Susky, a Toronto-based medical microbiologist certified in infection control, said she believes there is generally "not a high risk" of human-to-human transmission, given that "the natural reservoir" of H5N1 and other strains of avian influenza is birds and not humans.

"Cases of H5N1 in humans usually occur in people who have had contact with birds (slaughter, de-feathering, butchering or preparing)," she told Fox News Digital.

The EU agency called for "careful planning of poultry and fur animal farming," particularly in locations with large numbers of waterfowl. (iStock)

While bird flu has a 60% fatality in humans, Susky noted, it rarely occurs.

"At present, it does not transmit readily from person to person," she said.

The primary concern involves the influenza virus, she said, which is "excellent at mutating and recombining."

"If there are repeated contacts between species that are the natural reservoir for one type of influenza viral strain — like birds and H5N1 — and humans, the chances of this novel strain adapting to spread in this different species increases," Susky told Fox News Digital.

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"As there are more cases of H5N1, there are more chances for a crossover event into humans."

Some of the biggest sources of spread, Susky said, are industrial agriculture and modern cities, where a virus like influenza can pass readily through human and bird populations.

"Currently, birds share influenza strains less often with humans, though that can change — it is how past influenza pandemics have arisen," she said.

The CDC on Monday announced that a person in Texas tested positive for H5N1 bird flu. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

To prevent spread, Susky recommended practicing proper infection prevention techniques, which is important not only for bird flu, but also for seasonal influenza.

Those techniques include following proper and frequent hand hygiene before preparing food, eating or touching one’s face, and after using the washroom or coming in contact with animals.

Other mitigation strategies include receiving the annual influenza vaccine for those who qualify, and not going out among other people while feeling ill.

"The best way to minimize one’s risk of coming in contact with novel influenza strains is to avoid contact with birds and wild animals, if possible," Susky added.

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.

Monday, April 01, 2024

ZOONOSIS

Person diagnosed with bird flu in Texas after contact with cows

Health officials say the person is being treated with an antiviral drug

The Associated Press · Posted: Apr 01, 2024

A group of brown cows nestle together. — Dairy cows sit on high ground after days of heavy rain in Corcoran, Calif., on March 29, 2023. Health officials say a man in Texas has contracted avian flu after being in contact with dairy cows. (David Swanson/Reuters)

A person in Texas has been diagnosed with bird flu, an infection tied to the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows, health officials said Monday.

The patient is being treated with an antiviral drug and their only reported symptom was eye redness, Texas health officials said.

Health officials say the person had been contact with cows presumed to be infected, and the risk to the public remains low.

Last week, dairy cows in Texas and Kansas were reported to be infected with bird flu - and U.S. agriculture officials later confirmed infections in a Michigan dairy herd that had recently received cows from Texas.

The virus has been found in hundreds of mammal species globally in recent years. This bird flu was first identified as a threat to people during a 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong.

Avian flu confirmed in dead geese found in Kingston park

Avian flu found at western Quebec commercial poultry farm

52 commercial and backyard flocks in B.C. have been infected with bird flu

More than 460 people have died in the past two decades from bird flu infections, according to the World Health Organization.

The vast majority of infected people got it directly from birds, but scientists have been on guard for any sign of spread among people.

It's only the second time a person in the United States has been diagnosed with what's known as Type A H5N1 virus. In 2022, a prison inmate in a work program picked it up while killing infected birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His only symptom was fatigue, and he recovered.

Texas officials didn't identify the newly infected person, nor release any details about what brought them in contact with the cows

TEXAS

Human Contracts Bird Flu After Cases in Cattle, Goats: Officials

By Zachary Stieber
April 1, 2024

A chicken sits in its house in Heidi Kooy's yard which she calls the "Itty Bitty Farm in the City" in San Francisco on Nov. 16, 2009. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Avian influenza has been detected in a person in the United States, officials said on April 1.

The person became ill after coming into contact with cows that are likely sick with the influenza, also known as the bird flu, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that its testing confirmed the person has highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1).

The first human case domestically was confirmed in Colorado in 2022. That man recovered after experiencing fatigue.

Worldwide, hundreds of cases, as well as hundreds of deaths, have been recorded since 2003, according to the World Health Organization.

“This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public, which CDC considers to be low,” the CDC said in a statement. “However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at greater risk of infection.”

The new patient’s main symptom was conjunctivitis, or eyeball inflammation, according to officials.

The CDC said over the weekend that people who are exposed to confirmed or probable cases should monitor themselves daily for 10 days and report any new respiratory symptoms or heightened temperatures. The incubation period is generally three to five days, but can last as long as 10 days, according to the agency.

The human case comes after cows in five states, including Texas, tested positive for the influenza.

Tests came back positive from New Mexico, Idaho, and Michigan, the Department of Agriculture said on Friday. Cows in Texas and Kansas previously tested positive for the illness, officials announced on March 25.

The cows in Idaho and Michigan came from Texas. The cattle did not appear sick when they were picked up from Texas and moved to Michigan, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said.

Federal and state officials have been investigating the cases, which have been found among mostly older cows exhibiting symptoms such as decreased milk production and a diminished appetite. The CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are assisting.

Because the affected cows in Idaho came from another state that has identified influenza cases in cattle, the cases in Idaho may have been transmitted by cows, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture said.

The flu has been detected in birds before, and dead wild birds were found at farms that reported initial cases, the Department of Agriculture said. As of now, birds “are believed to be the source” of the infections, the agency said. But the spread of the illness among Michigan cattle, it said, indicates that transmission between cattle “cannot be ruled out.”

“The coincidence of timing is just too coincidental to say well, the shipment of cattle came up from an affected facility in Texas and then two weeks later we saw it in some other cattle,” Idaho state veterinarian Scott Leibsle told Politico. “That just doesn’t make any sense.”

Farmers are being encouraged to quickly report illnesses among their cattle to veterinarians, particularly if cattle experience symptoms associated with the influenza.

“As more is learned, it is vitally important for producers to work with their veterinarian and isolate sick animals from others, minimize the number of visitors to their farms, prevent contact between their animals and wildlife, and continue to vigilantly monitor the health of their animals,” Nora Wineland, Michigan’s state veterinarian, said in a statement.
Officials Say Milk Still Safe

The growing number of cases are not putting people at risk because milk bought commercially is pasteurized, officials said.

“Dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption; milk from impacted animals is being diverted or destroyed so that it does not enter the human food supply. In addition, pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk. Pasteurization is required for any milk entering interstate commerce for human consumption,” the Department of Agriculture said.

The FDA said the cases are a reminder that it can be harmful to ingest raw milk, which is favored by some people who say there are health benefits to drinking unpasteurized milk.

“This outbreak has quickly grabbed the attention of the agriculture industry on a national level. Understanding the details surrounding the transfer of avian virus to livestock is the top priority of animal health professionals and agriculture agencies. While troubling, this outbreak is not currently expected to threaten our nation’s commercial dairy supply,” Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said in a statement.

The flu is affecting about 10 percent of each affected herd, there’s been “little to no associated mortality” so far, and the impact on the milk supply is limited, federal officials said.

“Milk loss resulting from symptomatic cattle to date is too limited to have a major impact on supply and there should be no impact on the price of milk or other dairy products. Further, the U.S. typically has a more than sufficient milk supply in the spring months due to seasonally higher production,” the Department of Agriculture said.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas test positive for bird flu

ZOONOSIS

H5N1 HAS MOVED TO MAMMALS

MIKE STOBBE and JONEL ALECCIA
Updated Mon, March 25, 2024

FILE - Dairy cattle feed at a farm on March 31, 2017, near Vado, N.M. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday, March 25, 2024, that milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas has tested positive for bird flu.

(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd, File)

Milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas has tested positive for bird flu, U.S. officials said Monday.

Officials with the Texas Animal Health Commission confirmed the flu virus is the Type A H5N1 strain, known for decades to cause outbreaks in birds and to occasionally infect people. The virus is affecting older dairy cows in those states and in New Mexico, causing decreased lactation and low appetite.

It comes a week after officials in Minnesota announced that goats on a farm where there had been an outbreak of bird flu among poultry were diagnosed with the virus. It's believed to be the first time bird flu — also known as highly pathogenic avian influenza — was found in U.S. livestock.

The commercial milk supply is safe and risk to people is low, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dairies are required to only allow milk from healthy animals to enter the food supply, and milk from the sick animals is being diverted or destroyed. Pasteurization also kills viruses and other bacteria, and the process is required for milk sold through interstate commerce, the agency said.

“At this stage, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health,” the USDA said in a statement.

The federal government said its tests in the cattle did not detect any changes to the virus that would make it spread more easily to people.

Dairy farmers in Texas first became concerned three weeks ago when cattle started falling ill with what officials called “mystery dairy cow disease," Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller said. Milk production fell sharply and the cows were lethargic and weren't eating much.

“We hadn't seen anything like it before,” he said. “It was kind of like they had a cold.”

The state's animal health commission began an investigation that included tests for bird flu, spokeswoman Erin Robinson said. Based on findings from Texas, USDA officials think the cows got the virus from infected wild birds.

Experts say livestock appear to recover on their own within seven to 10 days. That's different than bird flu outbreaks in poultry, which necessitate killing flocks to get rid of the virus. Since 2022, outbreaks in have led to the loss of about 80 million birds in U.S. commercial flocks.

So far, the virus appears to be infecting about 10% of lactating dairy cows in the affected herds, said Michael Payne, a food animal veterinarian and and biosecurity expert with the University of California-Davis Western Institute for Food Safety and Security.

“This doesn’t look anything like the high-path influenza in bird flocks,” he said.

Bird flu was detected in unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas. The virus was also found in a nose and throat swab from another dairy in Texas.

Officials called it a rapidly evolving situation. The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are involved, along with officials in the three states. Another dairy-heavy state, Iowa, said it is monitoring the situation.

Dairy industry officials said that producers have started enhanced biosecurity efforts on U.S. farms, including limiting the amount of traffic into and out of properties and restricting visits to employees and essential personnel.

Bird flu previously has been reported in 48 different mammal species, Payne noted, adding: “It was probably only a matter of time before avian influenza made its way to ruminants.”

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Bird flu detected in cows at two Kansas dairy farms. Milk is safe to drink, feds say

Eduardo Castillo
Mon, March 25, 2024

Cows at two dairy farms in Kansas tested positive for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, commonly known as bird flu, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.

Public and federal health officials are investigating the illnesses but say it does not impact milk that is sold in Kansas grocery stores, according to a USDA news release.

“There is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health,” the USDA said.

Testing was done Friday on dairy cows in Kansas, Texas and New Mexico after reports from farms that found dead birds on their properties.

“Initial testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not found changes to the virus [HPAI] that would make it more transmissible to humans,” the USDA said. “Which would indicate that the current risk to the public remains low.”

Milk from sick dairy cows will be destroyed so it does enter the public food supply chain.

HPAI usually does not infect humans, although there have been rare instances when it did, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Agencies investigating the matter include the USDA, CDC, U.S. Food and Drug Administration among other state veterinary and public health officials.

Investigation into avian flu among cows happening in New Mexico

Fallon Fischer
Mon, March 25, 2024

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as state veterinary and public health officials, are investigating an illness among primarily older dairy cows in New Mexico, Texas, and Kansas.

The illness, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is causing decreased lactation, low appetite, and other symptoms in cows, according to the USDA.

New Mexico State Veterinarian Samantha Uhrig said there have been no positive cases of HPAI in New Mexico at this time. Officials are focusing their investigation on dairy cows in the eastern part of the state.

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As of Monday, March 25, unpasteurized, clinical samples of milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, as well as a swab from another dairy in Texas, have tested positive for HPAI. Based on findings from Texas, the detections appear to have been introduced by wild birds.

According to the USDA, the current risk to the public remains low and there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply. Federal and state agencies are working to conduct additional testing for HPAI, as well as viral genome sequencing. Farmers and veterinarians are asked to report cattle illnesses quickly so officials can monitor potential additional cases and minimize the impact to farmers, consumers and other animals.

The New Mexico Livestock Board said it is aware of the situation and is working with other local, state and federal agencies. The NMLB encourages dairy producers limit the amount of traffic into and out of their properties and restrict visits to employees and essential personnel only.

Veterinarians in New Mexico are being urged by the NMLB to check with other states on receiving requirements of all cattle prior to shipment. New Mexico producers and veterinarians who observe symptoms of (HPAI) are strongly encouraged to contact the New Mexico Livestock Board.

Click here to see the full news release from the USDA.

'Bird Flu' found at three Texas dairy farms, one in Kansas

FOX 26 Digital Staff
Mon, March 25, 2024

Texas - A mysterious ailment infiltrated the Texas Panhandle, leaving the agriculture sector in a state of bewilderment until officials discovered what it was.

On Monday, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller disclosed that the United States Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, along with the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), confirmed the mysterious disease plaguing the region as a strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), commonly referred to as Bird Flu.

According to officials, three dairies in Texas and one in Kansas have tested positive for ‘Bird Flu’ causing the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to remain on high alert.

"This presents yet another hurdle for our agriculture sector in the Texas Panhandle," Commissioner Miller emphasized. "Protecting Texas producers and the safety of our food supply chain is my top priority. The Texas Department of Agriculture will use every resource available to maintain the high standards of quality and safety that define Texas agriculture."

Texas's state economy gets $50 billion of its earnings from the state's dairy sector and Texas ranks fourth in national milk production.

Cows at a dairy Farm in Cambridge, Wisconsin, US, on Thursday, Feb. 9, 2023. Joe Biden wanted a show of strength and found it in a union hall in Wisconsin -- a state Democrats learned the hard way that they can't ignore, and one where the president sent his strongest signal yet of a reelection bid.

Photographer: Alex Wroblewski/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesMore

The commissioner reassures consumers that dairy products remain unaffected by HPAI due to the pasteurization protocols and other safety measures.

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"There is no threat to the public and there will be no supply shortages," said Commissioner Miller. "No contaminated milk is known to have entered the food chain; it has all been dumped. In the rare event that some affected milk enters the food chain, the pasteurization process will kill the virus."

According to the Texas Department of Agriculture, cattle affected by 'Bird Flu' will exhibit flu-like symptoms such as fever and abnormal milk consistency, such as thick and discolored, leading to a significant reduction in milk production averaging between 10-30 pounds per cow throughout the herd.

Farmers are urged to promptly notify their herd veterinarian if any cattle display symptoms of the condition.

Texas dairy farms are strongly advised to implement standard biosecurity practices, including limited access to essential personnel, thorough disinfection of incoming and outgoing vehicles, segregation of affected cattle, and disposal of contaminated milk. Furthermore, sanitizing all livestock watering equipment and isolating water sources from potential contamination by waterfowl.

Economic repercussions persist as severely impacted herds may see a staggering 40% decline in milk production for seven to 10 days until symptoms subside. Enhanced biosecurity measures are recommended across dairy facilities nationwide to prevent the disease from spreading any further.

"Unlike affected poultry, I foresee there will be no need to depopulate dairy herds," Miller said. "Cattle are expected to fully recover. The Texas Department of Agriculture is committed to providing unwavering support to our dairy industry."

Monday, March 25, 2024

Humans pass more viruses to other animals than we catch from them

UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON

Humans pass on more viruses to domestic and wild animals than we catch from them, according to a major new analysis of viral genomes by UCL researchers.

For the new paper published in Nature Ecology & Evolution, the team analysed all publicly available viral genome sequences, to reconstruct where viruses have jumped from one host to infect another vertebrate species.

Most emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases are caused by viruses circulating in animals. When these viruses cross over from animals into humans, a process known as zoonosis, they can cause disease outbreaks, epidemics and pandemics such as Ebola, flu or Covid-19. Given the enormous impact of zoonotic diseases on public health, humans have generally been considered as a sink for viruses rather than a source, with human-to-animal transmission of viruses receiving far less attention.

For the study, the research team developed and applied methodological tools to analyse the nearly 12 million viral genomes that have been deposited on public databases to date. Leveraging this data, they reconstructed the evolutionary histories and past host jumps of viruses across 32 viral families, and looked for which parts of the viral genomes acquired mutations during host jumps.

The scientists found that roughly twice as many host jumps were inferred to be from humans to other animals (known as anthroponosis) rather than the other way round. This pattern was consistent throughout most viral families considered. Additionally, they found even more animal-to-animal host jumps, that did not involve humans.

The team’s work highlights the high and largely underappreciated fact that human viruses frequently spread from humans into wild and domestic animals.

Co-author Professor Francois Balloux (UCL Genetics Institute) said: “We should consider humans just as one node in a vast network of hosts endlessly exchanging pathogens, rather than a sink for zoonotic bugs.

“By surveying and monitoring transmission of viruses between animals and humans, in either direction, we can better understand viral evolution and hopefully be more prepared for future outbreaks and epidemics of novel illnesses, while also aiding conservation efforts.”

The findings also show that, on average, viral host jumps are associated with an increase in genetic changes, or mutations in viruses, relative to their continued evolution alongside just one host animal, reflecting how viruses must adapt to better exploit their new hosts.

Further, viruses that already infect many different animals show weaker signals of this adaptive process, suggesting that viruses with broader host ranges may possess traits that make them inherently more capable of infecting a diverse range of hosts, whereas other viruses may require more extensive adaptations to infect a new host species.

Lead author, PhD student Cedric Tan (UCL Genetics Institute and Francis Crick Institute) said: “When animals catch viruses from humans, this can not only harm the animal and potentially pose a conservation threat to the species, but it may also cause new problems for humans by impacting food security if large numbers of livestock need to be culled to prevent an epidemic, as has been happening over recent years with the H5N1 bird flu strain.

“Additionally, if a virus carried by humans infects a new animal species, the virus might continue to thrive even if eradicated among humans, or even evolve new adaptations before it winds up infecting humans again.

“Understanding how and why viruses evolve to jump into different hosts across the wider tree of life may help us figure out how new viral diseases emerge in humans and animals.”

Cell entry is generally seen as the first step for a virus to infect a host. However, the team found that many of the adaptations associated with host jumps were not found in the viral proteins that enable them to attach to and enter host cells, which points to viral host adaptation being a complex process that remains to be fully understood.

Co-author Dr Lucy van Dorp (UCL Genetics Institute) said: “Our research was made possible only by the countless research teams that have openly shared their data via public databases. The key challenge, moving forward, is to integrate the knowledge and tools from diverse disciplines including genomics, epidemiology, and ecology to enhance our understanding of host jumps.”