The U.S. Division of Agriculture says cows in a number of states have examined optimistic for fowl flu.
Charlie Litchfield/AP
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Charlie Litchfield/AP
The U.S. Division of Agriculture says cows in a number of states have examined optimistic for fowl flu.
Charlie Litchfield/AP
On Monday, an individual in Texas examined optimistic for fowl flu — often known as the extremely pathogenic avian influenza — after coming in touch with dairy cattle presumed to be contaminated.
The virus, which is very contagious amongst wild birds and poultry, has now unfold to dairy farms, in line with the U.S. Division of Agriculture.
Not solely is that this the primary time that fowl flu has been present in dairy cattle, in line with the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, however that is additionally solely the second time a human has contracted the virus within the U.S.
Authorities and well being officers say that the chance to the general public stays low, since there have been no recorded cases within the U.S. of human-to-human transmission of avian flu.
All Issues Thought-about host Ari Shapiro spoke to Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, concerning the potential dangers and the federal government’s response.
This interview has been calmly edited for size and readability.
Interview highlights
Ari Shapiro: The CDC says the chance to people from the H5N1 flu that’s driving this outbreak is low. Proper now, it seems that the 2 circumstances in people have been from contact with sick animals. Do you’ve got any purpose to consider that people may go this on to one another?
Mandy Cohen: So we’ve got by no means seen a case of human-to-human unfold of avian flu right here in the US. And the model of avian flu that we’re seeing in cattle, and on this one human case, is identical pressure [H5N1] that we’ve got seen beforehand in birds. We have by no means seen that unfold human to human. That each one being stated, [what] we have discovered by COVID in our expertise is: viruses change, and we have to keep forward of it. That is why we at CDC and the entire of U.S. authorities is taking this very critically and monitoring the scenario very carefully.
CDC director Mandy Cohen in 2023.
Win McNamee/Getty Photos
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Win McNamee/Getty Photos
CDC director Mandy Cohen in 2023.
Win McNamee/Getty Photos
Shapiro: You say we have to keep forward of it. Inform us what that includes, what are the steps you are taking?
Cohen: One is clearly working very carefully to verify we’re understanding the extent of the unfold, what number of cattle and farm[s] are concerned, after which clearly searching for any people which might be in touch with cattle or sick birds, and testing of us which have signs, and ensuring that we’re understanding if it has unfold to folks. Up to now, there’s solely been one case in Texas. The individual had very delicate signs. They’re recovering properly. However we need to be sure, once more, that we’re testing of us who could have been in touch.
Shapiro: You stated widespread testing is essential – is there a threat that circumstances are going to go below the radar as a result of individuals are afraid to report? Whether or not it is farm house owners who don’t desire their operation to be shut down or farm staff who may not have well being protection.
Cohen: We’re working carefully with our state and native companions, our companions by agriculture and the U.S. Division of Agriculture and farm staff. Once more, we need to get forward of this. So we’re attempting to speak of us by it and construct belief, and folk have actually been receptive. We have been notably working with loads of the veterinarians which might be a part of the farms which have been impacted. Up to now, all working properly collectively.
Shapiro: Cows weren’t regarded as a species at excessive threat, and so if the virus is now spreading in cows, what are the possibilities that it may mutate to grow to be a threat to people?
Cohen: Properly, it’s true – that is the primary time we have seen avian flu, or “fowl flu,” in cattle. And, as you understand, cows are mammals, so it is a new reservoir or a bunch of animals that we’re seeing this virus in. And that simply means extra alternative for this virus to mutate and alter. And that is what we need to be sure we’re persevering with to remain forward of.
Shapiro: Monitoring whether or not it continues to unfold and evolve is one factor – getting ready for the chance that it’d is one other. In a New York Instances opinion piece, columnist Zeynep Tufekci stated the federal government must gear as much as doubtlessly mass produce vaccines shortly. Do you agree with that?
Cohen: Properly, the excellent news is the US has been getting ready for avian flu outbreaks for greater than 20 years. We have invested in our skill to check for this, to stop it and to deal with it. And we all know that the pressure we’re seeing proper now is identical pressure we’ve got seen earlier than. And we consider from all of our laboratory testing that our check will choose this up. Our remedy, which is Tamiflu, which we’ve got each doses in stockpile and across the nation, works. And we even have vaccine candidates which might be able to go. So it’s extremely completely different than what we skilled, for instance, at first of COVID, after we’re seeing a model new novel virus the place we did not have exams, we did not have remedy and we did not have vaccine.
Shapiro: However simply particularly, if it does take time to mass produce vaccines, is that one thing the U.S. needs to be doing in earnest proper now on the prospect that the virus evolves?
Cohen: We now have by no means seen a transmission from a human-to-human. That’s one thing we’re awaiting very carefully. And so there could also be set off factors the place we might transfer to serious about scaling up vaccine. However keep in mind, there’s at all times a tradeoff there – if we transfer to manufacturing one sort of vaccine, it could be on the expense of with the ability to manufacture that vaccine for the seasonal flu. Once more, one thing that additionally impacts us. So, we’ve got the power to scale up if we have to. And once more, we have already began down that course of and we’ll hold monitoring to see if we have to set off and do this.
Shapiro: The circumstances to date have all been in dairy cows. Ought to folks be involved about consuming milk and different dairy merchandise?
Cohen: [The] FDA has indicated that our milk provide is protected due to the pasteurization course of. Unpasteurized and uncooked milk stays a threat, however the overwhelming majority of our milk provide is protected due to pasteurization.
