Discussion thread: H5N1 avian flu in US dairy cows including human cases (poultry, dairy workers) - March 24, 2024 +

[Treyfish]

Avian flu found in dairy herds in Gratiot, Isabella counties

By Emily Keinath
Published: May. 10, 2024 at 2:14 PM EDT|Updated: 1 hour ago

MID-MICHIGAN (WNEM) - The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in dairy herds in Gratiot and Isabella counties.

Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring made the announcement on Friday, May 10.

The detections were confirmed by the Michigan State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, and samples were sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratory for additional confirmatory testing….

https://www.wnem.com/2024/05/10/avia...ella-counties/

[sharon sanders]

Thank you to our entire team.

While many of our volunteers are US citizens, we do not make any excuses for the US government on this site. We will continue to call out policy problems when we see them. It is only fair. We have been very critical of other governments (China) for some of their infectious disease policies and/or inaction. Our team will certainly point out those same issues in the US.

[sharon sanders]

From:
"FluTrackers" <flutrackers@earthlink.net>
To: <media@hhs.gov>
Subject: Request from flutrackers.com to be reinstated to listserve (distribution list) for media events
Date: May 10, 2024 4:07 PM


Dear HHS -

At one time we were on the media listserve (distribution list) for media advisories, press conferences, etc.

Please reinstate us.

Thank you!


Sincerely,

Sharon Sanders
Editor-in-Chief
FluTrackers.com

[sharon sanders]

We did not receive any notice of today's USDA/HHS press conference so I am asking for us to be reinstated to the HHS listserv. We are on the CDC media notification list.

[Treyfish]

Farmers will now get paid to test their dairy cows for bird flu

The federal government is putting up nearly $200 million to stop the spread of the virus and help experts get a better handle on just how widespread it is.
May 10, 2024, 6:33 PM EDT
By Erika Edwards
Federal authorities on Friday pledged nearly $200 million in an attempt to control the spread of bird flu on dairy farms. Some of that money would go directly to farms to help them reduce the spread of the virus, cover veterinary costs and compensate farmers who’ve lost milk because of sick cows.

The money is also intended to encourage testing of both dairy cows and the people who work closely with them — a key step, experts said, in understanding the true scope of bird flu, also known as H5N1, across the U.S.

“Incentives work very well to get a better understanding of epidemiology,” said Katelyn Jetelina, who tracks illnesses for a website called “Your Local Epidemiologist.”

Right now, there is no requirement for dairy cows to be tested unless they’re being moved across state lines, according to a recent federal order. Otherwise, the decision is left to farmers.

So far, only about 80 cows among the 26,000 dairy herds in the U.S. have been tested under the federal order,......
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...ent-rcna151645

[Pathfinder]

Bird flu strain found in US cows flown to UK lab for testing

Virus sent to high-security facility so that experts can examine the potential risks to people and livestock

Phoebe Weston
Sat 11 May 2024 07.00 EDT
...
“It’s due to be shipped any day now,” said Dr Ashley Banyard, a virologist at the UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency (Apha) lab in Weybridge, Surrey, last week. “I saw the packaging instructions in my email this morning.” It is essential this virus does not escape into the wider environment: globally, H5N1 has killed millions of wild birds and thousands of mammals.

Although avian flu is widespread in the UK, the specific genome being imported for testing is the only one known to infect cattle, and the US is the only place where it has been recorded. “We really want to know if there’s something special about this particular genotype that’s emerged,” said Banyard.

It is being shipped in a small amount of liquid within three tubes, with dry ice between layers – a bit like a Russian doll. A special courier costs hundreds of pounds to safely transport it door to door.
...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/11/bird-flu-strain-found-in-us-cows-flown-to-uk-lab-for-testing

[sharon sanders]

There are some media stories saying that people are drinking raw milk on purpose to get some low level of H5N1 exposure in the hope that this will lead to antibody protection against a future human pandemic strain of the virus.

This is not guaranteed to work. Cross immunity is a tricky thing. Meanwhile, there are real risks to drinking unpasturized milk.

FluTrackers has never recommended "flu parties" or any type of purposeful exposure to any illness.

If you have any medical questions, contact your medical practitioner. Do not take medical advice from the internet.

[Pathfinder]

U.S. dairy flu strain shows signs of being a different beast
...
By Jeff Melchior, Stew Slater
Reading Time: 4 minutes
Published: 16 hours ago
Dairy Cattle, News

...
Dr. Jean-Pierre Vaillaincourt, an epidemiologist with University of Montreal’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, says influenza A virus doesn’t spread readily in feces, so chances are low that geese or ducks could infect cows during a fly-over. It also doesn’t spread easily through nasal droplets so the likelihood is low that cows would spread the virus to other cows.

... Vaillaincourt thinks an infected bird with access to cattle housing or feeding areas likely contaminated either feed or water in the U.S. dairy incidents.
...
“Water will be a big (subject of investigation),” Vaillaincourt said. “In non-treated water, this virus could survive for weeks.”
...

https://www.albertafarmexpress.ca/livestock/dairy-cattle/u-s-dairy-flu-strain-shows-signs-of-being-a-different-beast/

[Pathfinder]

Influenza A Virus Wastewater Data


Print
Updated May 14, 2024

Main Findings from Wastewater Surveillance

• During the two most recent weeks (April 21-May 4), a total of 230 of 674 sites in 34 states reported data meeting criteria for analysis for influenza virus A in both weeks or either week, and 3 (1%) sites from three states were at the high level (>80^th percentile compared to levels recorded at that site between October 1, 2023 and March 2, 2024).

Wastewater and the Current Outbreak of Influenza A (H5N1) in birds, cattle, and other animals:

• Current wastewater monitoring methods detect influenza A viruses but do not determine the subtype. This means that avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses can be detected but would not be distinguished from other influenza A virus subtypes.
• Wastewater testing cannot determine the source of the influenza A virus. It could come from a human or from an animal (like a bird) or an animal product (like milk from an infected cow).
• Public health officials at CDC and state and local health departments are monitoring these data. For areas where influenza A virus levels in wastewater are high, CDC works with relevant partners to better understand the factors that could be contributing to these levels.
• Efforts to monitor influenza A virus activity using wastewater data are likely to evolve as the methodologies and interpretation are evaluated and refined.
• For the latest information on H5N1, and what you can do to protect yourself, visit H5N1 Bird Flu: Current Situation. For the latest information on influenza activity in people, visit the Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report.

Number of Wastewater Sites with Data Meeting Criteria for Analysis Reporting Current High Influenza A Levels in Recent Two Weeks: 3 (1% of Total Sites)

Number of Sites with Data Meeting Criteria for Analysis Reporting Influenza A Wastewater Data in Past Two Weeks: 230

Influenza A in Wastewater – Site Level

This interactive map shows current site-level data for influenza A virus in wastewater. Each dot on the map represents a wastewater sampling site. Sites are categorized based on the current level of influenza A compared to the past levels at the same site during the 2023-2024 influenza season. When influenza A virus levels are at the 80th percentile or higher, CDC will work with relevant partners to better understand the factors that could be contributing to these levels.

Wastewater data for influenza A is available for the most recent two weeks:

• April 21, 2024 – April 27, 2024
• April 28, 2024 – May 4, 2024

Skip Over Map Container
Week2024-05-042024-04-27 Select a color from the legend to add or remove it from the map.
All data are preliminary and may change as more reports are received. Wastewater data does not distinguish between human and animal waste or by-products. Download Data (CSV)


...https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/wastewater-...lu-A-data.html

[Treyfish]

Expert Briefing Tomorrow: Bird Flu - How It’s Spreading, Risks to Humans, and How We Can Protect Ourselves


14-May-2024 8:00 AM EDT, by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health





favorite_border


Newswise — A reminder that the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health will host an expert briefing for the media tomorrow, May 15, about the spread of avian influenza, the risks it poses to humans, and what we can do to protect ourselves.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, H5N1 bird flu has become widespread in migratory birds, with smaller outbreaks in poultry, cows, and a recent case in a U.S. dairy worker. On April 26, the Food and Drug Administration announced that initial results from its commercial milk sampling study showed that one in five samples of milk sold in the U.S. contained traces of bird flu. The FDA says the commercial milk supply is safe because of pasteurization but that it is monitoring the situation.

The live briefing will take place from 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, May 15, via Zoom, and will feature two experts from the Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Meghan Davis, PhD, and Andrew Pekosz, PhD, will discuss:

• What the threat of bird flu means for humans, including dairy farm and milk processing workers.
• How bird flu is affecting eggs, chickens, livestock, and food supplies.
• Bird flu’s recent infections in sea lions, sea elephants, and other marine mammals, as well as in cats on dairy farms.
• How bird flu is spreading through dairy cattle and adapting to more effectively infect mammals.
• How the virus can be treated in humans and what the public can do to stay safe.

Experts:

• Meghan Davis, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Environmental Health and Engineering at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. A former dairy veterinarian, she uses One Health approaches to address diseases at the human-animal interface.
• Andrew Pekosz, PhD, is a professor and vice chair of the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He investigates the replication and disease potential of respiratory viruses, including influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and other emerging viruses.

Registration required: Please register here by 11:30 a.m. today, May 14, to receive the Zoom link and password for Wednesday’s briefing. Questions for the experts may be submitted via the registration form in advance or via chat during the briefing.

Questions about registering: Contact Abubakr Uqdah at AUqdah@burness.com.

###

https://www.newswise.com/articles/expert-briefing-tomorrow-bird-flu-how-it-s-spreading-risks-to-humans-and-how-we-can-protect-ourselves

[Treyfish]

USDA, FDA turf battles hamper responses to outbreaks like H5N1 bird flu

• By Rachel Cohrs Zhang , Lizzy Lawrence , andNicholas Florko

May 14, 2024 HYACINTH EMPINADO/STAT WASHINGTON — On a bright June day in 2018, one of the nation’s top regulators waved groceries in the air, quizzing the secretary of agriculture on which agency is charged with monitoring different types of food.

Scott Gottlieb, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration at the time, grinned widely as he held liquid egg whites and a carton of eggs. The former is under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s food safety purview. The eggs, under the FDA’s. The mood was jovial, winkingly acknowledging the complexity, and at times absurdity, in the way the government regulates food.

But in times of crisis, the splintered U.S. food regulation system is far from amusing. With an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu spreading among dairy cattle, experts say that the longtime fractured nature of the U.S. food regulation system could hamper the federal response.

STAT interviewed more than 20 former agency officials and independent experts, many of whom described the relationship between the USDA and the FDA as being punctuated by tense turf battles. Some cited the recent history as a basis for their concern now over H5N1. In the past, the fragmented responsibilities between the FDA and sub-agencies within the USDA led to inefficient investigations and stunted surveillance testing in cases involving E. coli, salmonella, and tuberculosis. FURTHER READING H5N1 bird flu: Go deeper

• The top scientist at the WHO says social factors are as important as biology in controlling the spread of a virus. Jeremy Farrar warns of compliance reluctance, from migrant workers to farmers fearing financial losses.
• In studying possible methods of bird flu transmission, scientists look at where the H5N1 virus is most prevalent in cows — the udders.
• The bird flu threat to humans remains low, but potential mutations keep the CDC's top flu scientist up at night.
• First Opinion essay: To curb bird flu spread, the U.S. needs real-time tracking of livestock movements.

Because H5N1 is currently an animal disease, it’s clearly the USDA’s responsibility to test cattle and get a handle on the outbreak. But already, public health experts are concerned that the scope of that agency’s testing…
lots more..

https://dataemia.com/2024/05/h5n1-bird-flu-outbreak-response-could-be-hampered-by-usda-fda-turf-war/

[Pathfinder]

Canada -
...
Interim milk sampling and testing results (as of May 14, 2024)

CFIA laboratories tested 142 retail milk samples from across Canada. To date, all samples have tested negative for HPAI fragments, with no evidence of disease in dairy cattle detected in milk.
...

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/canada/h5n1-tracking-ag/990589-commercial-milk-sampling-and-testing-for-highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-hpai-viral-fragments-in-canada-14-05-2024

[sharon sanders]

How did the opossums get H5N1? They do not drink cow's milk afaik. Fomite contact walking through barn excrement? Wild bird contact outside barn? Soil? Pond?


"....AFFECTED POPULATION DESCRIPTION
A commercial dairy premises. Clinical signs in lactating cattle included a drop in milk production. HPAI H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b was also detected in two wild Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) and a feral barn cat (Felis catus) on the affected dairy premises...."

https://flutrackers.com/forum/forum/united-states/h5n1-tracking-af/michigan/988628-michigan-avian-flu-in-mammals-and-livestock-2024?p=990621#post990621

[jasonfoster]

If true, in my opinion, this is awful and dangerous to the rest of the world


California’s ‘wellness’ devotees think raw milk infected with bird flu will ‘boost immunity’


As US dairy farms fight outbreaks of HN51 in cows, some believe unpasteurised, infected milk will act as a natural vaccine against the virus

Unpasteurised milk presents a risk at the best of times – but not in parts of woo-woo California, it seems.

Despite the US health authorities warning that raw milk may contain live H5N1 virus – linked to bird flu outbreaks across 46 dairy farms – some people are reported to be seeking more of it.

Just as some alternative health devotees swear by the insertion of jade eggs where the sun don’t shine, others in the same cohort now believe that drinking milk contaminated with live H5N1 may actually be good for you.

-- more here -
https://telegraph.co.uk/global-healt...lk-california/

[sharon sanders]

Please see:

Nature Dispatch: Risk Assessment On HPAI H5N1 From Mink

[sharon sanders]

From:
"FluTrackers" <flutrackers@earthlink.net>
To: <media@hhs.gov>
Subject: Request from flutrackers.com to be reinstated to listserve (distribution list) for media events
Date: May 10, 2024 4:07 PM


Dear HHS -

At one time we were on the media listserve (distribution list) for media advisories, press conferences, etc.

Please reinstate us.

Thank you!


Sincerely,

Sharon Sanders
Editor-in-Chief
FluTrackers.com

FluTrackers.com
@FluTrackers


FluTrackers was not invited to another joint USDA HHS media event
despite making a request to be added to the media listserve. #H5N1


12:43 PM · May 16, 2024