The U.S. Division of Agriculture says cows in a number of states have examined optimistic for chook 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 chook flu.
Charlie Litchfield/AP
On Monday, an individual in Texas examined optimistic for chook flu — also called the extremely pathogenic avian influenza — after coming involved 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 chook 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 danger to the general public stays low, since there have been no recorded situations 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 evenly edited for size and readability.
Interview highlights
Ari Shapiro: The CDC says the danger to people from the H5N1 flu that’s driving this outbreak is low. Proper now, it seems that the 2 circumstances in people had been from contact with sick animals. Do you might have any motive to imagine that people may move this on to one another?
Mandy Cohen: So we now have by no means seen a case of human-to-human unfold of avian flu right here in america. And the model of avian flu that we’re seeing in cattle, and on this one human case, is identical pressure [H5N1] that we now have seen beforehand in birds. We have by no means seen that unfold human to human. That every one being mentioned, [what] we have discovered via 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 state of affairs very intently.
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 take?
Cohen: One is clearly working very intently to verify we’re understanding the extent of the unfold, what number of cattle and farm[s] are concerned, after which clearly in search of any people which can be involved with cattle or sick birds, and testing people which have signs, and ensuring that we’re understanding if it has unfold to other people. To this point, there’s solely been one case in Texas. The particular person had very delicate signs. They’re recovering effectively. However we wish to be sure that, once more, that we’re testing people who might have been involved.
Shapiro: You mentioned widespread testing is essential – is there a threat that circumstances are going to go beneath the radar as a result of individuals are afraid to report? Whether or not it is farm homeowners who don’t need their operation to be shut down or farm staff who may not have well being protection.
Cohen: We’re working intently with our state and native companions, our companions via agriculture and the U.S. Division of Agriculture and farm staff. Once more, we wish to get forward of this. So we’re making an attempt to speak people via it and construct belief, and people have actually been receptive. We have been significantly working with plenty of the veterinarians which can be a part of the farms which were impacted. To this point, all working effectively collectively.
Shapiro: Cows weren’t considered a species at excessive threat, and so if the virus is now spreading in cows, what are the probabilities that it may mutate to change into a threat to people?
Cohen: Properly, it’s true – that is the primary time we have seen avian flu, or “chook flu,” in cattle. And, as you recognize, cows are mammals, so this can be a new reservoir or a gaggle 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 wish to be sure that 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 likelihood that it’d is one other. In a New York Occasions opinion piece, columnist Zeynep Tufekci mentioned the federal government must gear as much as doubtlessly mass produce vaccines rapidly. Do you agree with that?
Cohen: Properly, the excellent news is america has been getting ready for avian flu outbreaks for greater than 20 years. We have invested in our skill to check for this, to forestall it and to deal with it. And we all know that the pressure we’re seeing proper now is identical pressure we now have seen earlier than. And we imagine from all of our laboratory testing that our check will choose this up. Our therapy, which is Tamiflu, which we now have each doses in stockpile and across the nation, works. And we even have vaccine candidates which can be able to go. So it’s totally completely different than what we skilled, for instance, at the start of COVID, once we’re seeing a model new novel virus the place we did not have exams, we did not have therapy 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. ought to be doing in earnest proper now on the possibility that the virus evolves?
Cohen: We’ve got by no means seen a transmission from a human-to-human. That’s one thing we’re looking forward to very intently. And so there could also be set off factors the place we might transfer to fascinated with scaling up vaccine. However bear in mind, there’s at all times a tradeoff there – if we transfer to manufacturing one kind of vaccine, it might be on the expense of having the ability to manufacture that vaccine for the seasonal flu. Once more, one thing that additionally impacts us. So, we now have the flexibility to scale up if we have to. And once more, we have already began down that course of and we’ll preserve monitoring to see if we have to set off and do this.
Shapiro: The circumstances thus far 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.
