Deadly H5N1 Bird Flu threat to Humans

[nivek]

Michigan farm worker becomes second American to be infected with H5N1 bird flu​

A dairy worker in Michigan has become the second person in the US to be infected with bird flu in the current outbreak.

The individual tested positive for the H5N1 virus in his eye, suggesting he caught it from splashed contaminated milk or by rubbing his eye with his hand.

The CDC has not revealed details about the patient's condition - only that they showed 'symptoms' consistent with the eye infection conjuntivitis. The agency did note that he has since recovered from 'mild' symptoms.

The CDC is now performing tests to assess whether the virus has mutated in a way that would make it more infectious or deadly to people.

The latest data shows that H5N1 has been confirmed in 51 dairy herds in nine states, according to the USDA. Of these, 15 farms were located in Michigan.

At the moment, officials insist the risk to the public is still 'low,' and there is no sign that people can spread the virus to others easily.

'Given the high levels of A(H5N1) virus in raw milk from infected cows, and the extent of the spread of this virus in dairy cows, similar additional human cases could be identified,' the agency said.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

First human case of H5N1 detected in Australia​

Australia has reported its first human case of the H5N1 avian influenza in a child who recently returned from India.

The case marks the first time the highly pathogenic strain of bird flu, which has killed millions of birds and mammals since it began circulating in 2020, has been detected on the continent.

The child contracted the virus in India in March of this year – likely through contact with a sick bird – and experienced a “severe infection,” but has since made a full recovery, according to local health authorities.

Officials said contact tracing has not identified any further infections and that the risk of transmission to others was “very low”, as the virus has not yet shown evidence that it can spread between people.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

US cow-derived H5N1 virus flown to Porton Down under strict security for UK testing​

A new unit set up to tackle H5N1 is testing imported samples of the virus at the high-security laboratories at Porton Down, in a race to understand if it poses a substantial risk to British livestock.

Virus extracted from sick cattle in the US has been shipped to three secure UK laboratories in Porton Down, London and Weybridge, Prof Ashley Banyard of the Animal Plant and Health Agency (APHA) told The Telegraph.

The task force is trying to determine whether the outbreak of H5N1 in America, which has so far been linked to outbreaks in 49 dairy herds across nine states, is a one-off spillover event, or if the virus has adapted to replicate in cattle – which means it could impact UK livestock.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

Hunting dogs in Washington show antibodies to H5N1 bird flu virus, study finds​

A team of US-based scientists has recently identified antibodies to H5 and N1 subtype influenza A virus in hunting dogs from Washington, USA.

The study is published in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.

Existing real-world and experimental data indicates that dogs are susceptible to HPIAV H5N1 infections with varied clinical symptom intensities. Dogs with high virus exposure are more likely to develop this infection.

In this study, scientists have measured antibodies to the influenza A (H5N1) virus in bird-hunting dogs. These dogs are at high risk for contact with HPIAV H5N1-infected wild birds.

The scientists collected blood samples from 194 dogs during March – June 2023 in Washington, USA. This corresponded to a time frame of 1 – 4 months after the closure of waterfowl hunting season in Washington. The dogs were engaged in bird hunting or bird hunt test and training programs over the past year.

The blood samples were analyzed using various techniques to detect serum levels of antibodies to influenza A (H5N1) virus.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

Michigan farmer becomes third American to be infected with H5N1 bird flu - as Biden tells vaccine makers to start preparing for pandemic​

A dairy farm worker in Michigan has become the third person in the US to be infected with bird flu in the current outbreak.

The patient suffered from watery discharge from their eyes — like the two previous cases — but also had a cough, the first time this has been reported in relation to this outbreak.

They have been offered the antiviral oseltamivir and told to isolate at home with their symptoms described as 'resolving'. None of their colleagues or household contacts have reported symptoms of an infection.

The case was revealed by the CDC, which said the worker had likely caught the virus from close contact with infected cattle on the farm.

Officials in Michigan urged farmers with symptoms of an infection to come forward for testing today — as the Biden administration revealed it was brokering a deal that would open the door to doses of a bird flu vaccine being supplied to the US.

(More on the link)

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[AD1184]

Michigan farmer becomes third American to be infected with H5N1 bird flu - as Biden tells vaccine makers to start preparing for pandemic​

A dairy farm worker in Michigan has become the third person in the US to be infected with bird flu in the current outbreak.

The patient suffered from watery discharge from their eyes — like the two previous cases — but also had a cough, the first time this has been reported in relation to this outbreak.

They have been offered the antiviral oseltamivir and told to isolate at home with their symptoms described as 'resolving'. None of their colleagues or household contacts have reported symptoms of an infection.

The case was revealed by the CDC, which said the worker had likely caught the virus from close contact with infected cattle on the farm.

Officials in Michigan urged farmers with symptoms of an infection to come forward for testing today — as the Biden administration revealed it was brokering a deal that would open the door to doses of a bird flu vaccine being supplied to the US.

(More on the link)

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In earlier outbreaks in humans in China, H5N1 has had a case fatality rate of more than 50%. I do not remember the last time that someone died of the infection, however. I know of at least four recent cases (a British man who caught it off some wild ducks he encouraged to live on his property, and these three farm workers in the US outbreak). However, they have all had mild symptoms. Perhaps the current strain of H5N1 is just not that deadly to humans any more.

 

[nivek]

In earlier outbreaks in humans in China, H5N1 has had a case fatality rate of more than 50%. I do not remember the last time that someone died of the infection, however. I know of at least four recent cases (a British man who caught it off some wild ducks he encouraged to live on his property, and these three farm workers in the US outbreak). However, they have all had mild symptoms. Perhaps the current strain of H5N1 is just not that deadly to humans any more.

Earlier today I was thinking about that too and its possible H5N1 is becoming weaker as it mutates through the livestock of cows...Cows could be a buffer and keep humans from being infected with a deadlier mutation...

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[J Randall Murphy]

Michigan farmer becomes third American to be infected with H5N1 bird flu - as Biden tells vaccine makers to start preparing for pandemic . . .​

Here we go again. How many millions ( maybe billions ) more will end-up in the coffers of vax companies, all based on fear over a pathogen that I'm not convinced is even as advertised, and even if it is, I've heard that virologically, a zoonotic jump for bird flu to humans is so unlikely that there's no way it's not another gain of function variant.

Moderna’s Stock Soars As US Government Pours Millions Into Secret Bird Flu Vaccine Trials​

Moderna's Stock Soars As US Government Pours Millions Into Secret Bird Flu Vaccine Trials - GreatGameInternational

Moderna's stock surges as the US government invests millions in covert bird flu vaccine trials, amid concerns over H5N1's spread and potential human-to-human transmission ahead of the presidential elections.

greatgameindia.com

 

[nivek]

World Health Organization warns a NEW strain of bird flu has jumped to humans with 'potential for high public health impact' - as man in Mexico, 59, tests positive before dying from it​

A new strain of bird flu has jumped to humans in an event that has 'potential for high public health impact', the World Health Organization has warned.

Officials say a 59-year-old man in Mexico died after battling a seven-day illness in which he suffered fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea and nausea.

Tests showed the man, who suffered multiple underlying conditions, was infected with a strain of bird flu called H5N2, marking the first time this type has ever been detected in humans.

Officials said any case of new bird flu strains spilling into humans risked an outbreak, but that in this case the risk was 'low' as there was no evidence of onward transmission.

The strain differs from the H5N1 bird flu that is currently tearing through dairy herds in the US and has already sickened three dairy farm workers.

The patient, from Mexico City, became unwell on April 17, but initially tried to treat his symptoms at home.

A week later, however, and after symptoms worsened, the patient went to hospital — but died later that same day from 'complications of his condition'.

PCR tests carried out on April 24 revealed he had been infected with a flu virus, and later it was confirmed that the patient had H5N2.

He was also reported to have been bedridden for three weeks before contracting the infection.

It was not clear where the patient caught the virus or whether they had spread it to others. He had no connection to farmland or poultry.

Officials said 17 people at the Mexico City hospital where he was treated and twelve neighbors — including seven who had signs of illness — all tested negative for the virus.

Blood tests are now being carried out to screen for antibodies against H5N2, which would indicate a previous infection.

Officials also noted that several flocks in the area had recently tested positive for H5N2, although it was not clear whether these were linked to the patient.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

View: https://twitter.com/BNOFeed/status/1798462489702867060


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[nivek]

H5N1 is becoming weaker as it mutates through the livestock of cows

If we have cow-H5N1 mutations circulating through the cows and also the bird-H5N1 mutations still circulating in the bird populations, is it possible a human infected and recovered from the cow-H5N1 virus could be more vulnerable to getting ill from the bird-H5N1?...

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[AD1184]

If we have cow-H5N1 mutations circulating through the cows and also the bird-H5N1 mutations still circulating in the bird populations, is it possible a human infected and recovered from the cow-H5N1 virus could be more vulnerable to getting ill from the bird-H5N1?...

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If anything, I would expect them to be less vulnerable, as they have antibodies to a similar virus.

 

[nivek]

If anything, I would expect them to be less vulnerable, as they have antibodies to a similar virus.

The mutations would be the key element in getting reinfected, isn't that why people get the common cold or flu multiple times, because its different mutations each time?...

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[AD1184]

The mutations would be the key element in getting reinfected, isn't that why people get the common cold or flu multiple times, because its different mutations each time?...

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Probably. Although you have greater immunity if you have been infected by a similar virus previously, than if you have never before encountered a similar virus.

That was why covid became less of a problem over time, even though it kept mutating. When people were exposed to a new mutated strain, the immunity they had from the earlier strain lessened the severity of infection.

 

[nivek]

View: https://twitter.com/goddeketal/status/1798725058095177949


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[nivek]

This article is lengthy but a good read, below are some excerpts from the following link...

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Bird flu is rampant in animals. Humans ignore it at our own peril​

(Excerpts)

Using a strain of H5N1 from the recent cattle outbreak, scientists recently confirmed that this version of the virus is unlikely to transmit through the air. In experiments with ferrets, which are considered the gold standard for studying how viruses transmit in people, researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grew a sample of the same H5N1 virus taken from a farmworker with the flu in Texas to experimentally infect six of the animals. Then, three healthy ferrets were placed in the same enclosures with three of the sick animals. These animals could touch, nose and lick the sick animals, and all of them became ill.

Next, the CDC tested airborne transmission by putting three healthy ferrets into an enclosure where they could breathe the same air as sick animals but couldn’t touch them. Only one of those three animals became ill, suggesting that the virus carried by cattle in the current outbreak is not well adapted to respiratory spread, the CDC wrote in a news release on the study.

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Using a strain of H5N1 from the recent cattle outbreak, scientists recently confirmed that this version of the virus is unlikely to transmit through the air. In experiments with ferrets, which are considered the gold standard for studying how viruses transmit in people, researchers at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grew a sample of the same H5N1 virus taken from a farmworker with the flu in Texas to experimentally infect six of the animals. Then, three healthy ferrets were placed in the same enclosures with three of the sick animals. These animals could touch, nose and lick the sick animals, and all of them became ill.

Next, the CDC tested airborne transmission by putting three healthy ferrets into an enclosure where they could breathe the same air as sick animals but couldn’t touch them. Only one of those three animals became ill, suggesting that the virus carried by cattle in the current outbreak is not well adapted to respiratory spread, the CDC wrote in a news release on the study.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

Doctor issues dire bird flu warning saying CDC is 'flying blind', comparing outbreak to 'early days of Covid'​

A top doctor has warned the USDA and CDC are 'blind' to a potential nationwide bird flu outbreak in the United States because of a lack of testing.

Dr Rick Bright, a virologist and former director at the Department of Health and Human Services, said that the level of concern is greater than it appears on the surface, with only three Americans having tested positive for the virus.

He warned that, despite the low number of cases, it is possible the virus could be mutating, making it better able to infect humans.

In an interview with PBS, he said: 'I'm more worried right now about the information and the data that we're missing. We're being blindfolded in this battle right now, and I'm really concerned that the virus is winning the game and getting ahead of us.'

Scientists say the risk is high due to widespread infections in cattle, which have udders containing receptors found in both bird and human lungs.

The CDC has only tested 45 humans for bird flu to date, which the agency says it only does when there are concerns the person could be infected. But with so many herds infected with the virus — 102 as of yesterday — it is feared the virus may be gaining new mutations.

Dr Bright added during the interview: 'When I talk about we're not doing enough about it is, we really don't know how many humans have been infected with this virus.

'And, today, there's been very limited to almost no serology testing done among any of the cases, the close contacts on the farm or their family members.

'So, it's really hard for us to know how many people have been exposed, and if there really is any human-to-human transmission or not.'

Genetic testing carried out by the CDC has shown more than 300 mutations of the virus in cattle, including some that may make the virus more infectious.

The above map shows states where bird flu infections have been reported in cattle.

(More on the link)

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[J Randall Murphy]

Doctor issues dire bird flu warning saying CDC is 'flying blind', comparing outbreak to 'early days of Covid'​

A top doctor has warned the USDA and CDC are 'blind' to a potential nationwide bird flu outbreak in the United States because of a lack of testing.

Dr Rick Bright, a virologist and former director at the Department of Health and Human Services, said that the level of concern is greater than it appears on the surface, with only three Americans having tested positive for the virus.

He warned that, despite the low number of cases, it is possible the virus could be mutating, making it better able to infect humans.

In an interview with PBS, he said: 'I'm more worried right now about the information and the data that we're missing. We're being blindfolded in this battle right now, and I'm really concerned that the virus is winning the game and getting ahead of us.'

Scientists say the risk is high due to widespread infections in cattle, which have udders containing receptors found in both bird and human lungs.

The CDC has only tested 45 humans for bird flu to date, which the agency says it only does when there are concerns the person could be infected. But with so many herds infected with the virus — 102 as of yesterday — it is feared the virus may be gaining new mutations.

Dr Bright added during the interview: 'When I talk about we're not doing enough about it is, we really don't know how many humans have been infected with this virus.

'And, today, there's been very limited to almost no serology testing done among any of the cases, the close contacts on the farm or their family members.

'So, it's really hard for us to know how many people have been exposed, and if there really is any human-to-human transmission or not.'

Genetic testing carried out by the CDC has shown more than 300 mutations of the virus in cattle, including some that may make the virus more infectious.

The above map shows states where bird flu infections have been reported in cattle.

(More on the link)

A guest who seemed credible on an interview I watched a while back ( someplace - I don't recall exactly which one at this time ) said that if bird flu jumps to humans, you know that a lab had something to do with it, because the complexity required to mutate the virus enough to make it transmissible to humans isn't scientifically possible without intervention.

Maybe they were wrong, but I doubt it. There's a very high probability that either this isn't "bird flu", or it's another lab leak.

 

[nivek]

Colorado is rocked by outbreak of H5N1 bird flu - weeks after confirming the plague​

The four poultry workers who contracted the avian bird flu didn't wear protective gear while culling chickens, the CDC revealed today.

There were three cases confirmed to have H5N1, also known as avian influenza, on Friday and one person is believed to be infected but the results are still pending.

It brings the total number of human cases to nine and experts fear virus could mutate to become more dangerous if it continues to jump between species.

They're so concerned about an outbreak that the federal government has paid Moderna - of covid vaccine fame - $176 million to create H5N1 vaccine for humans in case it becomes a national pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is studying the cluster of cases in Colorado to determine if they should update the risks to human health.

An initial analysis hasn't shown any worrisome signs that the virus is mutating, making it easier to spread among people and the CDC is not currently recommending that livestock workers need to be vaccinated against the disease, Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the CDC told US News.

Federal officials said the workers had been culling poultry at a farm in northeast Colorado when they started experiencing mild symptoms including conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, and respiratory infections.

None of the Colorado workers were hospitalized after contracting the virus but are being monitored for ongoing symptoms.

The CDC told DailyMail.com that is has deployed a team of nine people including epidemiologists, veterinarians, clinicians and an industrial hygienist to Colorado' to determine whether they should update the public health response to the outbreak.

(More on the link)

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[nivek]

H5N1 confirmed in 5 more US dairy herds, more cats​

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today added five more dairy herds in three states to its list of H5N1 avian flu outbreak confirmations.

Also, APHIS confirmed the virus in three more cats from two states, both of which are experiencing H5N1 outbreak in dairy cows and poultry.

Dairy herd confirmations rise to 145
Most of the APHIS confirmations involve detections initially announced by states. The newly added outbreaks include 3 in Colorado, 1 in Michigan, and 1 in Texas, boosting the USDA's total to 145 in 12 states.

Separately, the Minnesota Board of Animal Health reported another new outbreak in a dairy herd, which involves cows from Benton County in the central part of the state. Minnesota has now reported eight H5N1 outbreaks at dairy farms.

More cat and wild-bird positives
In related developments, APHIS confirmed H5N1 detections in three more domestic cats, two from Minnesota and one from Michigan, raising the total since 2022 to 33.

A notification from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) said the cats from Minnesota were feral barn cats on an affected dairy farm in Sibley County in south central Minnesota. Samples were collected on June 10.

Meanwhile, APHIS said samples from the Michigan cat were collected on April 18 and that the cat was from Ottawa County, one of 10 Michigan counties affected by outbreaks in dairy cows. Also, APHIS reported an H5N1 detection in a raccoon from Ottawa County, with samples collected on the same date as the cat.

Additionally, APHIS reported four more H5N1 detections in wild birds from two Iowa counties, all agency-harvested birds that were sampled in mid to late June. The birds that tested positive were from Plymouth and Sioux counties and included a red-winged blackbird, robin, turkey vulture, and barn swallow.

(More on the link)

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