H5N1 has been found in commercially available milk – but gaps in testing of cattle and humans are hampering effort to stop virus
Serious gaps in testing animals and people could be obscuring the true rate of avian influenza cases in the US and make it difficult to understand how the H5N1 virus is spreading – and how to stop it, experts say.
“This epizootic has caught people tremendously by surprise,” said Gregory Gray, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Scientists knew cows could be infected with all four different influenza types, “but we’ve never seen this amount of infection, nor have we seen it move so fast.”
Only about two dozen people have been tested for H5N1 in this entire outbreak. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend testing unless symptoms develop after close contact with animals – even if someone has milked a sick cow or lives with an infected person. “We don’t know when this thing moves in the beef cattle, and no one’s really talking about that,” Gray said.
Another challenge for scientists: the genomic sequences released thus far by US agencies were stripped of key data – like when and where they were collected – making it very difficult to track what’s happening and how the virus is evolving, scientists say. This has global implications for understanding and tracking outbreaks among livestock.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Risk of bird flu spreading to humans is ‘enormous concern’, says WHOChief scientist voices fears about H5N1 variant that has ‘extraordinarily high’ mortality rate in humans
Read more »
Lack of alternatives could lead to Erik ten Hag staying at Manchester UnitedAs season threatens to implode, Dutchman’s two years at Old Trafford may well give him the edge on potential replacements
Read more »
Twenty years since Play School met Brenna’s mums, book ban highlights lack of progressBrenna Harding, who at age eight introduced Australia to her two mums, says Cumberland Council’s ban of a same-sex parenting book shows how little has changed.
Read more »
Gurner-Roberts merger plans sinks due to increased construction costs and lack of ‘chemistry’A lack of “chemistry” between the two Rich List business leaders also hindered a merger of their development and construction businesses.
Read more »
Manchester United staff believe lack of leadership felt in Martínez’s absenceManchester United coaching staff believe the squad has too few vocal leaders and that the injured Lisandro Martínez has been sorely missed in that regard
Read more »
Lack of mortgage competition to hurt customers and boost Australian banks’ profitsIn half-year financial results Westpac says pressure on profit margins has eased with its pullback from aggressively competing in the home loan market
Read more »