-
-
Helen Branswell
@HelenBranswell
·
7m
.
@USDA
has started putting the missing metadata into genetic sequences in Genbank from the #H5N1 #birdflu outbreak in cows. USDA says it will do it for all the posted sequences. Better late than never? .Comment
-
CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update August 9, 2024
...
Laboratory Update
CDC is posting summary results of a new laboratory study using a ferret animal model. The study looked at disease severity and spread of an avian influenza A(H5N1) virus from a human case in Michigan in ferrets. Ferrets are commonly used as a model for humans in the study of influenza viruses because they are susceptible to influenza virus infection and display clinical signs of infection shared by humans. The study showed that A/Michigan/90/2024 caused less severe disease in ferrets than an avian influenza A(H5N1) virus from the human case in Texas (A/Texas/37/2024).
While the A/Texas virus was deadly in all infected ferrets, none of the ferrets infected with the A/Michigan virus died or had to be euthanized because of severe illness. This finding is important because A/Michigan/90/2024 is more similar to currently circulating viruses than A/Texas/372024. The two viruses showed similar, less-than-efficient capacity to spread from ferret to ferret by respiratory droplets. CDC scientists used two models to assess the ability of A/Michigan/90/2024 to spread between ferrets: a "direct contact model" and a "respiratory droplet model." In the direct contact model, infected and healthy ferrets are placed in the same enclosure. In the respiratory droplet model, infected and healthy ferrets are placed in adjacent enclosures that share the same air. The results were similar to those of a previous CDC study in ferrets of the A/Texas/372024 virus from the human case in Texas that was reported on April 1, 2024.
...
Comment
-
HOGVET51
AUG 11, 2024
Michigan PH Reports on 2 H5N1 cases - IRAT Update - CO Cats - Lessons Keep Coming to Further Paint the Big Picture
In last weekend’s (August 3rd) post I made a statement I want to bring back this week to reemphasize:
The key factor we can often overlook or minimize is the date of sampling (farm visit) versus the date of estimated initiation of clinical illness (if observed). Antigen (PCR) results are not like serology results - they can be very unstable even over 24 hours as infections progresses on dynamic surfaces like nasal mucosa. Positive nasal swab results do not remain reliably positive over long periods.
...continued
...Bovine H5N1 influenza is likely rapidly becoming endemic in the U.S. dairy industry, given all the unrestricted movement within both the dairy and beef industries. Both poultry and humans (and even cats) serve as “sentinels” for new infections, and retail milk samples and wastewater surveillance provide additional evidence. I’d urge that those who doubt or fear this reality should prevail upon the USDA to allow provisional serological testing for non-regulatory purposes in order to fine-tune cut-off values and determine with greater precision the degree of inroads this virus has made into cattle populations across the country.
I honestly hope I’m crying wolf over a much less serious situation. So please prove me wrong. Let’s enroll some owner-veterinarian-researcher volunteers to investigate sub-clinical early-stage (e.g. CO bulk tank positive herds) cases from beginning to resolution in the field as an outbreak unfolds. Veterinarians from previously affected herds could be consulted first to intelligently determine objectives. Include follow-up with serological sampling in both affected and healthy herd mates. Public health partners could monitor and sample workers daily as a herd becomes ill, then later recovers. If we’re going to mandate sampling, let’s use early infected herds to our advantage in studying the course of infection, resulting in documented herd epidemiological report(s) with similar information on the animal side that was found in the human Michigan public health report with which I opened the blog.
Widespread serological surveys and in-the-field real-time case monitoring and reporting (both with appropriate privacy safeguards) would be powerful tools in understanding our next steps and quantifying our risks. Do we have the honesty and courage to actually do it?
Comment
-
Hat tip to Shiloh
FDA: Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) - August 13, 2024
Excerpt:
...
Second Retail Sample Survey Results (August 13, 2024)
On Aug. 13, 2024, the FDA announced the results from the agency’s second survey of retail dairy products. Samples were processed and analyzed by a USDA-Agricultural Research Services (ARS) laboratory from June 18 – July 31, 2024. All 167 samples were found to be negative for viable H5N1 virus. The FDA’s second sampling survey tested dairy products collected at retail locations, including aged raw milk cheese, pasteurized fluid milk and products made from pasteurized milk, such as pasteurized cheeses, cream cheese, butter, and ice cream.
The samples, collected by a third party, were aseptically repackaged to remove identifying manufacturing marks and then sent to USDA-ARS for extraction and analysis. USDA reported the results to the FDA. No viable virus was detected in the samples. These results strengthen previous assessments that commercial pasteurization inactivates the H5N1 virus. USDA ARS and FDA are submitting the survey results for publication in a peer-reviewed journal. The prepublication is available at https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1....11.24311811v1External Link Disclaimer.
The tables below provide additional details on the samples and test results for our second survey of retail dairy products.
Table 1: Breakdown of Retail Sample Results by State Where Fluid Milk Was Processed
State Where Milk Was Processed (May Not Relate to Where Milk Was Produced)
Detection of Live Virus in Retail Product(s)
Number of Retail Product Samples Tested
Retail Product Samples Negative for Viral RNA (qRT-PCR Screening -)
Retail Product Samples Positive for Viral RNA (qRT-PCR Screening +)
Retail Product Sample Results for Live Virus (Viability Testing by Egg Inoculation)Table 2: Breakdown of Retail Sample Results by Product TypeAL No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) AZ No 1 1 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) CA No 6 6 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) CT No 1 1 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) DE No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) ID No 9 2 7 0 IL No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) KY No 3 2 1 0 LA No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) MD No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) ME No 1 1 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) MS No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) MT No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) NC No 2 2 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) ND No 1 1 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) NE No 1 1 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) NH No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) NJ No 1 1 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) NM No 2 2 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) OH No 2 2 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) PA No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) RI No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) SD No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) TN No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) VA No 1 1 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) VT No 3 3 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR) WI No 10 10 0 Not Performed (Negative qRT-PCR)
Product Category
Number of Retail Product Samples
Detection of Live Virus in Retail Product
Retail Product Samples Negative for Viral RNA (qRT-PCR Screening -)
Retail Product Samples Positive for Viral RNA (qRT-PCR Screening +)
Percent of Retail Product Samples Positive for Viral RNA (via qRT-PCR screening)
Retail Product Sample Results for Live Virus (Confirmatory Virus Culture)Skim Milk 7 No 7 0 0% N/A 1% Milk 11 No 9 2 18.2% 0/11 2% Milk 23 No 22 1 4.3% 0/23 Whole Milk 38 No 33 5 13.2 0/38 Heavy Cream 1 No 1 0 0% N/A Cheddar Cheese 14 No 12 2 14.3% 0/14 Mozzarella Cheese 12 No 6 6 50.0% 0/12 Processed Cheese 6 No 5 1 16.7% 0/6 Cream Cheese 3 No 3 0 0% N/A Butter 7 No 4 3 42.9% 0/7 Ice Cream 22 No 13 9 40.9% 0/22 Aged Raw Cheese 23 No 23 0 0% N/A Total 167 None 138 29 17.4% 0/167
...
Comment
-
Influenza A Virus Wastewater Data
Updated August 15, 2024
Main Findings from Wastewater Surveillance
During the two most recent weeks, (July 28, 2024–August 10, 2024), a total of 285 of 826 sites reported data meeting criteria for analysis for influenza A virus for both weeks or for either week, and 0 (0%) sites from 0 states were at a high level (>80th percentile compared to levels recorded at that site between October 1, 2023 and March 2, 2024).
...
Data Table
...
Id:427 7 Illinois Cook Above Average 69.05 Two-Week Maximum 30,000 2022-10-10
Id:1723 7 Oregon Deschutes Above Average 61.9 Two-Week Maximum 90,000 2021-09-26
Id:449 8 Illinois Kankakee Above Average 75.61 Two-Week Maximum 60,000 2022-10-10
Id:463 7 Illinois Mchenry Above Average 60.47 Two-Week Maximum 20,000 2022-10-06
Id:455 8 Illinois Lake Above Average 70.93 Two-Week Maximum 110,000 2022-10-05
Id:1153 8 Nebraska Buffalo Above Average 73.17 Two-Week Maximum 30,000 2023-08-31
...
Comment
-
Translation Google
Canada -
Additional requirement for cattle returning to the country
ACIA prepares for U.S. exhibitions
By Marie-Josée Parent
Posted: 2 hours ago
As of August 14, owners of Canadian domestic cattle returning from a stay in the United States of less than 60 days will be required to provide additional certification.
This requirement includes completing Form VS 17-140 and the Export Certificate Attestation Document published on the USDA website .
Canada remains free of avian influenza in cattle, while cases are increasing in the United States. Since the first case last spring, 192 cases have been reported in 13 U.S. states. In the last 30 days, there have been 31 cases in six states.
The CFIA reminds that good biosecurity practices are essential to prevent diseases in Canadian herds.
The Agency also plans to announce in the coming days guidelines for dairy producers planning to participate in agricultural exhibitions in the United States. Several Canadian dairy producers participate each year in the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, which will be held this year from October 1 to 4, 2024.
...
Comment
-
[bolding mine]
Flu virus that killed millions of poultry found in dairy cows. Is it in California?
8/15/24
Excerpt:
For now, California remains free of avian flu. Industry officials credit the coordinated mitigation efforts of dairy operators, scientists and health officials for holding the line and keeping the virus out of the state....
California, lead by the San Joaquin Valley, dominates U.S. milk production, pumping out more than 4 billion pounds annually. In the Valley, Tulare County reigns as the number one milk producer in the nation, supplying about one-fourth of the state’s production.
Extra vigilant
Tulare County dairy farmer Tom Barcellos has remained extra vigilant since news broke of the avian flu. Dairy operators in California are no strangers to protecting against diseases. In 2012 a dairy cow in Tulare County was discovered to have Mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
The cow was euthanized and was not slated for the ground beef market. Nationwide, about 20% of the U.S. ground beef supply comes from dairy cows.
Barcellos keeps a close watch over his cow’s health and maintains strict guidelines for who is allowed on his dairy. His dairy workers also regularly use hand washes and sanitizing products when working around the cows.
Recently, Barcellos sold some of his bulls and when the buyer came to pick them up, the driver sprayed his trailer, including tires, with a disinfectant before entering the dairy.
“The folks who come onto our dairy are taking precautions, and we are as well,” Barcellos said. “If that virus comes into California, it is not going to happen without the industry having taken precautions.”
... https://ca.style.yahoo.com/news/flu-...153000407.htmlComment
-
[bolding is mine]
Fewer Cows at Fairs Due to H5N1 Testing
Iowa
8/17/2024 | 8:15 AM CDT
Excerpts:
Some exhibitors at the Iowa State Fair changed from what they would normally take to the dairy show to protect their herds at home from any risk of influenza.
Brandon Franck from DeWitt, Iowa, is the assistant herdsman of LeeAnn's Swiss where they milk about 80 Brown Swiss cows and have exhibited at the Iowa State Fair for many years. He said they decided to leave their fresh cows home from the fair this year. "We opted to not bring any lactating cows this year to the fair because of the testing requirements. We brought four heifers this year for the show," he said
TESTING REQUIREMENTS TO PREVENT SPREAD
The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship started a statewide order on July 1 to require all lactating dairy cows to test negative for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) within seven days of moving to the exhibition.
-snip-
As of Aug. 15, all the H5N1 cases in Iowa have been in northwest Iowa. While Franck said it hasn't been an issue in eastern Iowa, where their farm is, they also don't want to see problems.
"In eastern Iowa, it's been a non-issue. We haven't seen any cases, so none of the prevention stuff really applies to us in regard to spread within the herd. We are practicing biosecurity just like we always have," he said.
The heifers they did bring for the show will return to farms where no lactating cows are present, and they hope this will provide another amount of protection from the virus.
"There are people who would have normally brought cows to the fair that didn't this year, and overall, it seems the numbers at the fair are down from a normal year when we don't have any herd health concerns," said Franck. Other producers who did have lactating cows at the fair declined to comment about the process they needed to do to show their animals.
.
Comment
-
[article is out of PA]
As birds start migrating, are dairy cows safe?
Chris Torres, Editor, American Agriculturist
August 19, 2024
With the fall wild bird migration just around the corner, dairy farms are being urged to get biosecurity plans in place to prevent an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza.
-snip-
At last week’s Ag Progress Days, representatives from the state’s department of agriculture handed out biosecurity worksheets developed by the Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) program that has recently been modified for dairy farms.
The 20-page document includes a self-assessment of animals and animal movements, as well as biosecurity controls for people visiting. Only 20 dairy farms have these plans on file with the state, says Seth Confer, the department’s biosecurity program specialist.
-snip-
"Pennsylvania is very unique in that we have so many farms that have dairy and swine, dairy and poultry, poultry and swine, all of it. So, obviously the biggest thing right now is dairies because HPAI has been found in more dairy farms across the country," Confer says
"We're finding it difficult to get stakeholder buy in, if you will. A lot of people are under the impression that it's not in Pennsylvania that we know of, so why do I need to care? One of our biggest pushes is to get people to care," he adds.
... https://www.farmprogress.com/animal-...iry-cows-safe-Comment
-
[bolding is mine]
Summary of the 27th IPVS and 15th ESPHM-ECPHM: Viruses and parasites
19 August 2024
In this first installment, Antonio Palomo summarizes the presentations and posters from the latest edition of IPVS and ESPHM-ECPHM.
This year's IPVS is taking place alongside the 15th European Symposium on Swine Health Management, following the symposium held a year ago in Thessaloniki, Greece.
The congress chairman was Prof. Dr. Johannes Kauffold who was accompanied by a ten-member organizing committee, an eight-member IPVS steering committee, a seven-member ECPHM steering committee, plus a seven-member committee of German practical veterinarians. The congress was sponsored by 39 national and international companies and partners and there were 45 booths. Some 2,700 delegates from 65 countries attended.
-snip-
The change the swine industry faces today is the collapse of geographical space and the global spread of pathologies. There are currently 58,288 air routes and the legal trade of pigs between continents and countries is constant (from 1980 to 2023 there has been a 13.9-fold increase in the movement of pigs in the world). Therefore, early disease detection is key to preventing it from spreading and becoming an epidemic problem.
-snip-
• The co-circulation of different strains prevents control measures, including vaccines, from being fully effective. Numerous studies focus on the early identification of emerging viral variants so measures can be taken to mitigate the effects of the disease, carrying out predictive models. They are based on six phylogenetic parameters of variants appearing 12 and 24 months earlier and analyze their spatial distribution and genetic diversity. Both intranasal and intramuscular routes of transmission are important in highly virulent strains. The capacity of virus percolation in slurry, passing to groundwater, is shown to be possible and variable according to the virulence of the strains. Trucks transporting live pigs constitute a high risk of farm contagion. A Danish study found no association between serological results from farms near or far from roads.
-snip-
• The highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus continues to infect chickens, wild birds, and mammals throughout the world. In mammalian infections, the strains adapt through mutations, replicating in the upper respiratory tract, increasing the risk of infection and establishing itself as an endemic virus in swine.
... https://www.pig333.com/articles/summ...rasites_20612/Comment
-
MN
H5N1 Cases Likely Exceed Reported Number
Published Today
Red River Farm Network
Minnesota has had a total of eight reported cases of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cattle. “To my knowledge, many of them are pretty closely related cattle that would have transmitted farm-to-farm,” said Lucas Sjostrom, executive director, Minnesota Milk Producers Association. “Myself, the Board of Animal Health, our state veterinarian and our commissioner of agriculture spoke at Farmfest and we all agreed that we suspect the eight recorded cases are just the tip of the iceberg. It’s really hard to track this disease. The symptoms that we see in cows are the same symptoms that we see every day on dairy farms just from an animal that might be just a little bit sick that’s going to quickly get better. It is a version of the flu after all.”
Comment
-
-
WastewaterSCAN Dashboard
Arkansas
H5, Harrison, AR
https://data.wastewaterscan.org/trac...rtId=7ea406
Comment
-
Live bird migration maps
On August 23 00:00 ET, there were 76 million birds in flight.
Video: https://birdcast.info/migration-tool...igration-maps/Comment
- Do not take medical advice from the internet. If you have any medical questions please consult your medical practitioner.
LATEST POSTS - click HERE
Check out the FAQ,Terms of Service & Disclaimers by clicking the link. Please register to be able to post. By viewing this site you are agreeing to our Terms of Service and Acknowledge our Disclaimers.
FluTrackers.com Inc. does not provide medical advice. Information on this web site is collected from various internet resources, and the FluTrackers board of directors makes no warranty to the safety, efficacy, correctness or completeness of the information posted on this site by any author or poster. The information collated here is for instructional and/or discussion purposes only and is NOT intended to diagnose or treat any disease, illness, or other medical condition. Every individual reader or poster should seek advice from their personal physician/healthcare practitioner before considering or using any interventions that are discussed on this website. By continuing to access this website you agree to consult your personal physican before using any interventions posted on this website, and you agree to hold harmless FluTrackers.com Inc., the board of directors, the members, and all authors and posters for any effects from use of any medication, supplement, vitamin or other substance, device, intervention, etc. mentioned in posts on this website, or other internet venues referenced in posts on this website.- We are not asking for any donations. Do not donate to any entity who says they are raising funds for us.
Tweet
Comment