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What CDC Is Doing to Respond to Bird Flu Outbreaks in Dairy Cows and Other Animals in the United States
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Key Points
Learn more about the Bird Flu Current Situation in Cows in the United States.
Monitoring of Exposed Workers
CDC is working with USDA and state partners to monitor for infections in exposed persons in the states where detections in poultry, backyard flocks, or other animals have occurred.
Ongoing Laboratory Activities
Genetic Sequencing and Virus Characterization
CDC will continue its ongoing assessment of the risk posed by these viruses, including conducting additional laboratory work to further characterize current A(H5N1) viruses.
Because flu viruses are constantly changing, CDC continually analyzes viruses to identify genetic changes that suggest these viruses might spread more easily to and between people, and cause serious illness in people, or for changes that suggest reduced susceptibility to antivirals, as well as changes in the virus that might mean a new vaccine virus should be developed.
Diagnostics
CDC’s diagnostic tools that are used to detect seasonal influenza viruses also can detect novel influenza A viruses including A(H5N1) viruses. These diagnostic tools are used at more than 100 public health laboratories in all 50 U.S. states and have been shared internationally as well.
Vaccines
As part of pandemic preparedness activities and as a WHO Collaborating Center, CDC regularly develops candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs)—viruses made for production of vaccine—for novel bird flu viruses with pandemic potential. Two existing HPAI A(H5N1) candidate vaccine viruses are already available to manufacturers, and which could be used to make vaccine if needed.
The virus is also very closely related to two existing A(H5N1) candidate vaccine viruses that are already available to manufacturers, and which could be used to make vaccine if needed.
Antivirals
There are four commercially available FDA-approved prescription antiviral treatment drugs recommended for influenza. CDC’s preliminary genetic analysis suggests that currently available FDA-approved antiviral treatments for seasonal flu would work against these viruses. There are no markers known to be associated with influenza antiviral resistance found in the virus sequences from the patient’s specimen.
Outreach and Education
In addition to conducting laboratory studies and active surveillance, CDC also is engaging public health partner organizations to share information and ensure preparedness for any potential human infections.
CDC is conducting broad outreach to the public to raise awareness about the current situation and that the current risk to the general public’s health is low, but that there are certain groups of people who are at a greater risk of infection who should take precautions.
CDC will provide updates on this situation as needed on the Avian Influenza Current Situation Summary or Avian News & Spotlights pages.
Additional Information
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https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/what-cdc-doing-h5n1.htm
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Key Points
- CDC is working closely with USDA to monitor the current H5N1 bird flu situation in wild birds and poultry, dairy cows, and sporadic infections in other mammals, and will provide updates as information is available.
- CDC is the lead agency for human health.
- The U.S. Department of Interior and USDA are the lead federal departments for outbreak investigation and control in wild birds and agriculture.
- USDA APHIS is the lead agency for such activities in domestic birds and agricultural livestock.
- The risk to the general public from H5N1 bird flu is currently low.
Learn more about the Bird Flu Current Situation in Cows in the United States.
Monitoring of Exposed Workers
CDC is working with USDA and state partners to monitor for infections in exposed persons in the states where detections in poultry, backyard flocks, or other animals have occurred.
- People who have been exposed to infected birds, poultry, or other animals are actively monitored for 10 days after exposure.
- Public health departments are working to monitor people who were exposed to birds/poultry or other animals infected with A(H5N1) virus.
- People monitored who show symptoms are subsequently tested for novel influenza A and seasonal flu viruses along with other respiratory viruses.
- CDC is engaging public health partner organizations to share information and ensure preparedness for any potential human infections.
Ongoing Laboratory Activities
Genetic Sequencing and Virus Characterization
CDC will continue its ongoing assessment of the risk posed by these viruses, including conducting additional laboratory work to further characterize current A(H5N1) viruses.
Because flu viruses are constantly changing, CDC continually analyzes viruses to identify genetic changes that suggest these viruses might spread more easily to and between people, and cause serious illness in people, or for changes that suggest reduced susceptibility to antivirals, as well as changes in the virus that might mean a new vaccine virus should be developed.
Diagnostics
CDC’s diagnostic tools that are used to detect seasonal influenza viruses also can detect novel influenza A viruses including A(H5N1) viruses. These diagnostic tools are used at more than 100 public health laboratories in all 50 U.S. states and have been shared internationally as well.
Vaccines
As part of pandemic preparedness activities and as a WHO Collaborating Center, CDC regularly develops candidate vaccine viruses (CVVs)—viruses made for production of vaccine—for novel bird flu viruses with pandemic potential. Two existing HPAI A(H5N1) candidate vaccine viruses are already available to manufacturers, and which could be used to make vaccine if needed.
The virus is also very closely related to two existing A(H5N1) candidate vaccine viruses that are already available to manufacturers, and which could be used to make vaccine if needed.
Antivirals
There are four commercially available FDA-approved prescription antiviral treatment drugs recommended for influenza. CDC’s preliminary genetic analysis suggests that currently available FDA-approved antiviral treatments for seasonal flu would work against these viruses. There are no markers known to be associated with influenza antiviral resistance found in the virus sequences from the patient’s specimen.
Outreach and Education
In addition to conducting laboratory studies and active surveillance, CDC also is engaging public health partner organizations to share information and ensure preparedness for any potential human infections.
CDC is conducting broad outreach to the public to raise awareness about the current situation and that the current risk to the general public’s health is low, but that there are certain groups of people who are at a greater risk of infection who should take precautions.
CDC will provide updates on this situation as needed on the Avian Influenza Current Situation Summary or Avian News & Spotlights pages.
Additional Information
- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Animals: Interim Recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations
- Considerations for Veterinarians: Evaluating and Handling of Cats Potentially Exposed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus
- Information for People Exposed to Birds Infected with Avian Influenza Viruses
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https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/what-cdc-doing-h5n1.htm