PAF
Member
- Joined
- Feb 26, 2012
- Messages
- 13,559
[snip]
By Bill Whitaker
April 20, 2025
As the H5N1 bird flu virus mutates and rapidly spreads through American cattle herds — a first for the U.S. — doctors and veterinarians are fearful that if the virus is left unchecked, it could spiral into a possible pandemic.
Avian influenza is constantly changing. Every new infection increases the odds bird flu could potentially become more deadly or easily transmissible between humans, infectious disease expert Dr. Kamran Khan warns. Today, the virus does not spread person to person, but Khan warns that could change.
Khan said he wants people to know "this is a very serious threat to humanity" and that the longer bird flu is left to spread, "the greater the risks are going to be."
"We are really at risk of this virus evolving into one that has pandemic potential," Khan said. "And the reality is none of us know whether this is next week, or next year, or never. I don't think it's never. But it may be here far sooner than any of us would like."
The first bird flu detected in cattle was in early 2024. Cows were suffering from a mysterious disease: their fevers spiked, their milk dried up, they were coughing, drooling, and lethargic. Soon, there were more sick cattle in neighboring states.
There is also a new strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus, called D1.1, which has been discovered in cattle. It can lead to more severe disease in some people.
The CDC is also trying to ramp up its testing, but there's another problem: almost half of farmworkers are undocumented and may be reluctant to be tested.
Full article:
www.cbsnews.com
By Bill Whitaker
April 20, 2025
As the H5N1 bird flu virus mutates and rapidly spreads through American cattle herds — a first for the U.S. — doctors and veterinarians are fearful that if the virus is left unchecked, it could spiral into a possible pandemic.
Avian influenza is constantly changing. Every new infection increases the odds bird flu could potentially become more deadly or easily transmissible between humans, infectious disease expert Dr. Kamran Khan warns. Today, the virus does not spread person to person, but Khan warns that could change.
Khan said he wants people to know "this is a very serious threat to humanity" and that the longer bird flu is left to spread, "the greater the risks are going to be."
"We are really at risk of this virus evolving into one that has pandemic potential," Khan said. "And the reality is none of us know whether this is next week, or next year, or never. I don't think it's never. But it may be here far sooner than any of us would like."
The first bird flu detected in cattle was in early 2024. Cows were suffering from a mysterious disease: their fevers spiked, their milk dried up, they were coughing, drooling, and lethargic. Soon, there were more sick cattle in neighboring states.
There is also a new strain of the H5N1 bird flu virus, called D1.1, which has been discovered in cattle. It can lead to more severe disease in some people.
The CDC is also trying to ramp up its testing, but there's another problem: almost half of farmworkers are undocumented and may be reluctant to be tested.
Full article:
As bird flu hits cattle herds in U.S., scientists say these H5N1 factors worry them most
Bird flu infections have been rare among people, but the pathogen is evolving, which has scientists worried about a possible pandemic.
www.cbsnews.com
