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Bird flu: humans infected with H5N8 strain for first time in Russia

The first confirmed case in cows "in Minnesota". H5N1 has been confirmed multiple times over recent months in numerous herds across a number of US states.

The H5N2 Mexican case is more interesting, with the individual concerned having no apparent history of having had any contact with any livestock (in particular poultry, which has been implicated in the past in Mexico).
 
Been some worrying updates over the last couple of months - testing of dairy workers is reportedly "woefully inadequate"

So far, bird flu testing of this cohort has been woefully inadequate. Testing is usually under the purview of state authorities following federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Tests are recommended for symptomatic workers. The exact number of dairy workers and other people who have so far been tested for H5N1 is not publicly available at the federal level. There is no excuse to continue only limited testing of this vulnerable population. Any serious surveillance efforts of H5N1 demand that the country do better to ensure proper testing and health care is provided to these workers now, lest we risk being caught flat-footed by a new pandemic so soon after Covid.

This is especially important for a work force whose broader social and economic circumstances may discourage them from seeking out timely testing and treatment. A majority of hired farmworkers in the United States are from Mexico and Central American countries; many lack authorization to work here legally. Undocumented workers may be worried about public health reporting systems putting them at risk for immigration enforcement or preventing future chances of gaining a visa or permanent residency status.

 
Been some worrying updates over the last couple of months - testing of dairy workers is reportedly "woefully inadequate"

So far, bird flu testing of this cohort has been woefully inadequate. Testing is usually under the purview of state authorities following federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. Tests are recommended for symptomatic workers. The exact number of dairy workers and other people who have so far been tested for H5N1 is not publicly available at the federal level. There is no excuse to continue only limited testing of this vulnerable population. Any serious surveillance efforts of H5N1 demand that the country do better to ensure proper testing and health care is provided to these workers now, lest we risk being caught flat-footed by a new pandemic so soon after Covid.

This is especially important for a work force whose broader social and economic circumstances may discourage them from seeking out timely testing and treatment. A majority of hired farmworkers in the United States are from Mexico and Central American countries; many lack authorization to work here legally. Undocumented workers may be worried about public health reporting systems putting them at risk for immigration enforcement or preventing future chances of gaining a visa or permanent residency status.


Some of it is logistically impossible. Nebraska has six million cattle. The CDC wants to test everyone each week. While testing is inadequate and worker protections are as well, they need to ask for something that's reasonable. The goal is to protect the public and turning those who will be doing the testing off with impossible tasks isn't helpful.
 
Is bird flu spreading among people? Data gaps leave researchers in the dark
Nature. 19 September 2024
All eyes are on Missouri.

Researchers are anxiously awaiting data from the midwestern state about a mysterious bird flu infection in a person who had no known contact with potential animal carriers of the disease. The data could reveal whether the ongoing US bird flu outbreak in dairy cattle has reached a dreaded turning point: the emergence of a virus capable of spreading from human to human.
Thus far, data from the mysterious infection are few and far between: small snippets of the H5N1 virus’s genome sequence and an incomplete infection timeline. Ratcheting up concerns is the fact that no Missouri dairy farms have reported a bird flu outbreak; this might be because there really are no infections, or because the state does not require farmers to test their cows for the virus.

“The fear is that the virus is spreading within the community at low levels, and this is the first time that we’re detecting it,” says Scott Hensley, a viral immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia. “There’s no data to suggest that to be the case, but that’s the fear.”
Too many unknowns. I'm suprised by the lack of testing in the USA.
 
H5N1 has been detected in a pig in the US (Oregon) for the first time…

"There is no concern about the safety of the nation’s pork supply as a result of this finding", was not really the first concern that sprang to mind.

It's not yet clear as to whether this case was environmental contamination or an extensive infection, nor what transmissibility amongst swine this variant might potentially have. Further results are awaited.

 
imagine if it spreads to pandemic levels like covid


all the far right christian fucks refusing the idea that god is sending literal fucking plagues to tell them they back the wrong fella

:hmm:
I hope I am wrong but I suspect it is only a matter of time.
 
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We have the Orange Turd and his Doge cheerleader holding up government funding and trying to stop bills being passed before he is inaugurated for the second time.
imagine what trump , elon and RFK jr will do to the health of the usa before the next election jebus
 
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