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A few observations. This current H5N1 virus appears to have evolved to have transmission primarily through milk and/or non-sterilised milking equipment in cows, and specifically mammary glands. There is nothing I have seen thus far that suggests it is transmitting from cows as a respiratory disease (please correct me if I am wrong here).
It is however transmitting (somehow) back into birds, which are most likely acting as an intermediate vector to go on to infect other herds and mammalian groups i.e cats and racoons (and maybe other animal groups and/ or cattle herds) - I am not sure the transmission mechanisms to birds and other mammals have been determined as yet, which makes containment within dairy herds very unlikely.
The marked presence in wastewater is also very concerning. Think about increased potential for jumps to rats and mice. (Added thought: The elephant in the room is whether bovine faeces and urine are also infected, and therefore a major transmission risk - it seems most likely to me if we are to account for wild bird re - infections which are known to grub around in manure, and urine to account for high levels in wastewater)
However, as things stand it appears that the species jump has been accomplished through adaptation to a more bird-like transmission route - i.e non -respiratory and specifically milk & mammary glands and faeces. It appears that despite this being an HPAI it is not so severe in its effects in terms of mortality in this form.
So my questions are firstly, how high is the risk of effective reassortment with other flu types that are efficient at respiratory spread? An H5N1 virus that re-adapts to become a respiratory virus could substantially affect mortality rates in any host mammalian species. If it remains as it currently is, it may continue to be relatively inconsequential in terms if illness and deaths caused at least initially if a successful species jump occurs, whether that is in humans, cattle or any other mammalian species.
The bigger risk here is that populations / governments consider this 'another Covid' and 'a storm in a teacup' in its initial phases and do not take this seriously because in this format it is not 'too bad', and we find later in extensive circulation it can successfully re-assort with established seasonal flu's, then further down the line it can cause serious problems. This applies whether it is in farmed animals (food supply) or in humans.
I hope that the worlds expert virology labs are studying this question of production of viable H5 re-assortments in great depth so we - and governments - can understand what the risks posed by this virus are, both in the short and longer term. There seems to be a lot of complacent attitudes out there.Last edited by Vibrant62; July 31, 2024, 08:31 AM.Comment
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The use of lagoons as a dumping area for milk from H5N1 sick dairy cows is not a good idea.Comment
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Vaccination
Getting a seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against H5N1 bird flu
While getting a seasonal flu vaccine only prevents seasonal flu and will not protect against H5N1 bird flu, it is important that people who may have frequent exposure to infected or potentially infected birds or other animals get a seasonal flu vaccine, ideally 2 weeks before their potential exposure. This is because it can reduce the very rare and theoretical risk of getting sick with human and avian influenza A viruses at the same time.
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See how a manure lagoon works and why farmers want to build even more of themOriginally posted by sharon sanders View Post
1.3M views 7 years ago
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Desert cottontail
/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desert_cottontail
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Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Mammals
Last Modified: July 31, 2024
state county date_collected date_detected hpai_strain species
Colorado Weld 07/11/2024 07/22/2024 EA H5N1 Desert cottontail
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This study was published in 2018.
Cottontail rabbits shed clade 2.3.4.4 H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses
Posted here on FT:
Additional link:
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3153&context=icwdm_usdanwr c#:~:text=All%20rabbits%20tested%20shed%20virus,H5 Nx%20avian%20influenza%20A%20viruses.
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Abstract
During 2014-2015, clade 2.3.4.4 H5Nx highly pathogenic (HP) avian influenza A viruses (IAV) were first detected in North America and subsequently caused one of the largest agricultural emergencies in U.S. history. Recent evidence has suggested that cottontail rabbits can shed multiple IAV subtypes. We experimentally infected cottontail rabbits with three HP H5Nx IAVs. All rabbits tested shed virus on at least one day by at least one route. Cottontail rabbits appear to be an exception to the limited capacity for replication that has been previously reported for certain other mammalian species inoculated with clade 2.3.4.4 HP H5Nx avian influenza A viruses.
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Overall, 10 of 10 cottontail rabbits seroconverted for the three viruses. Serology tests indicated 3/3 animals seroconverted following inoculations with the turkey virus, 3/3 animals seroconverted following inoculations with the Northernpintail virus, and 4/4 animals seroconverted following inoculations with the gyrfalcon virus (Table 1; see table footnotes for denominator explanations).
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Recent literature suggests that cottontail rabbits are susceptible to multiple LP IAV strains, and can be susceptible to low doses of virus [12, 14, 15]. However, to our knowledge, this is the frst evaluation of HP viruses in cottontail rabbits. Consistent with other studies evaluating cottontail rabbits, the current study also indicates that this species can shed relatively high viral titers by multiple routes. Of interest, the virus that produced the highest levels of viral shedding in cottontails during the current study was isolated from poultry, thereby suggesting that this species may pose more of a threat for viral movement between poultry barns once the virus is established at a farm, as compared to the rabbits acquiring a viral infection from a wild bird on the farm premises.
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Similar to previous studies involving relatively high inoculation doses [12], the viral shedding dynamics in the current study were fairly brief, with most animals ceasing viral shedding by 6-7 DPI. Nonetheless, one animal shed virus through 8 DPI (the last day samples were taken) and shed relatively high titers out to 6 DPI (104.6 PFU/mL by the nasal route and 103.4 PFU/mL by the oral route). For obvious reasons, cottontail rabbits that shed higher titers and shed for longer periods of time likely pose a greater epidemiological risk in most situations.
As has been reported previously for multiple LP IAV strains [12, 14], the current study indicates that cottontail rabbits can shed relatively high levels of some HP IAVs along with a lack of any obvious signs of disease. As a symptomless carrier of IAVs, if infected, cottontail rabbits are unlikely to provide any type of obvious warning of the presence of a virus on poultry facilities without the use of active surveillance. Thus, reducing wildlife attractants and preventing wildlife access to facility premises, such as poultry houses, are key to mitigating the potential risk posed by this and certain other wildlife species [17].
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Good bye rabbits, which will lead to more foxes and birds and such. Keeps getting worse
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WastewaterSCAN Dashboard
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typo redacted
Bird flu has not been found in mammals or livestock in Arkansas:
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state county date_collected date_detected hpai_strain species
No matching records found
Showing 0 to 0 of 0 entries (filtered from 373 total entries)
/https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock...ctions/mammals
/https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock...ases-livestock
The last detection of avian influenza in poultry was in backyard birds in December 2023.
Confirmed State County Name Production Control Area Released Birds Affected
14-Dec-23 Arkansas Scott WOAH Non-Poultry NA 180
07-Dec-23 Arkansas Carroll Commercial Turkey Meat Bird 28-Dec-23 33,300
04-Dec-23 Arkansas Johnson Commercial Broiler Production 28-Dec-23 109,000
29-Nov-23 Arkansas Carroll Commercial Broiler Production 23-Dec-23 81,200
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/https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock...ackyard-flocks
The last wild bird collected that tested positive for bird flu was in January 2024.
Arkansas Johnson 01/18/2024 01/31/2024 EA H5N1 Northern pintail Wild bird Hunter harvest
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/https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birdsComment
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Influenza A Virus Wastewater Data
Updated August 1, 2024
Main Findings from Wastewater Surveillance
During the two most recent weeks, (July 14, 2024–July 27, 2024), a total of 317 of 811 sites reported data meeting criteria for analysis for influenza A virus for both weeks or for either week, and 3 (<1%) sites from 3 states were at a high level (>80th percentile compared to levels recorded at that site between October 1, 2023 and March 2, 2024).
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Data Table
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Id:454 8 Illinois Lake Above Average 76.74 Two-Week Maximum 60,000 2022-10-05
Id:154 7 California San Francisco Above Average 68.42 Two-Week Maximum <10,000 2022-12-29
Id:550 7 Kansas Johnson Above Average 69.74 Two-Week Maximum 50,000 2023-09-17
Id:2211 7 Kansas Johnson Above Average 69.23 Two-Week Maximum 40,000 2023-09-17
Id:1174 9 Nebraska Scotts Bluff High 80.95 Two-Week Maximum 20,000 2023-09-04
Id:2174n10 Wisconsin Waupaca High 97.73 Two-Week Maximum <10,000 2023-07-31
Id:476 9 Illinois Morgan High 80.65 Two-Week Maximum 20,000 2022-10-05
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The recent uptick of confirmed Dairy Bulk Tank test results in herds in CO, gave me pause. With Colorado jumping 12 entries in 24 hours, I was wondering if each entry was a separate herd. Looking for some clarity. I found this article dating back to June, when they first introduced this volunteer pilot program. This excerpt below makes me believe each entry is a separate herd.
Four States Sign on for Voluntary H5N1 Testing of Bulk Milk Tanks
June 26, 2024
Routine Bulk Milk Sampling
According to USDA, farmers who voluntarily enter the program will be able to move their herds across state lines without additional testing after bulk milk tanks or similar representative samples test negative for H5N1 for three consecutive weeks.
“Producers must also comply with continued regular weekly monitoring and testing of their herd for H5N1, but that process can happen with very little effort on the part of the producer, using routine bulk milk samples,” Deeble said during his remarks.
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From post #14 on this thread dated April 3, 2024
Please see:Originally posted by sharon sanders View Post
Colorado: First Bulk-Milk Testing Results adds 9 More Infected Dairy Herds to Their List - August 5, 2024Comment
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USDA Announces $824 Million in New Funding to Protect Livestock Health; Launches Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program
Press Release
Release No. 0103.24
Contact: USDA Press
Email: press@usda.gov
WASHINGTON, May 30, 2024
Excerpt:
Voluntary Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program
Continuing to build on the efforts to contain H5N1, APHIS is standing up a Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program, which provides alternative testing and movement options to the Federal Order to increase USDA's monitoring capabilities to mitigate the spread of H5N1. The Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program aims to create additional testing options for producers with herds that have tested negative for three weeks in a row, further reduce H5N1 virus dissemination, provide for further opportunities to test herds that are not known to be affected with H5N1, increase surveillance and expand our knowledge of the disease, and support an overall national program to reduce the risk of H5N1 in dairy herds.
The main benefit for farmers who choose to enroll in the Voluntary H5N1 Dairy Herd Status Pilot Program is that once they can demonstrate their herds are free of H5N1 with results from a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) facility, they will then need to conduct weekly tests on bulk milk from that herd to confirm that status and will be able to ship their cows at the time they prefer and without testing individual animals.
Dairy producers from States enrolled in the first phase of this program who choose to enroll their herds and who test negative for H5N1 for three consecutive weeks using on-farm bulk tank milk samples or similar representative milk samples tested at a NAHLN laboratory will be able to move animals without additional pre-movement testing currently required under the Federal Order. Producers must also comply with continued regular weekly monitoring and testing of the herd for H5N1.
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....so when they re-test these herds next week, and they should test positive for a 2nd week in a row, do they post it as a new "entry". Or do they somehow indicate it is a continued testing of the same herd.....it sure is getting murky!Comment
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Colorado State Veterinarian now requiring HPAI testing of commercial dairy cow operations
Aug 2, 2024
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Excerpt:
The statewide surveillance will take place under the joint supervision of CDA and CDPHE with support from USDA and will remain until further notice by the Commissioner of Agriculture or State Veterinarian.
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During this time, all Colorado CDPHE licensed dairy cow facilities with lactating dairy cattle that produce products for human consumption will be required to submit weekly samples for testing. These samples will be collected by CDPHE-certified collection samplers and tested by the Colorado State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. Dairies currently under order of quarantine or order for testing are subject to those specific orders. This does not include raw milk facilities.
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