H5N1 warnings

[billvon 2,684]

Public health message - avian flu (H5N1) is now spreading to people via cows.  There have only been two cases in humans so far, but so many cows have H5N1 that more spread is pretty much inevitable.  A recent test by the FDA found H5N1 markers in 20% of the milk sold in the US.  It probably can't spread via pasteurized milk, but it does indicate how widespread the infection is in bovine populations.

The next concern is spread from cows to pigs, since pigs are so similar to humans that the virus will have no problem jumping over.  And if it can spread pig to pig, it will likely be able to spread person to person.

Nothing you can do really at this point but I would advise that people monitor the course of this disease very closely, so that if a new vector is identified (i.e. handling raw bacon) you can quickly take steps to protect yourself.

[wmw999 2,291]

Thanks. And I might start masking in more crowded venues again; this is a farming area, with plenty of both dairy and meat cattle.

Wendy P.

[kleggo 143]

On 4/26/2024 at 9:55 AM, billvon said:

Public health message - avian flu (H5N1) is now spreading to people via cows.  

 

 

Did you read the article in Sunday's NYT? Apparently the reporter spoke to officials at the USDA and was met with conflicting stories and general ignorance of the situation.

Not Good.

[billvon 2,684]

1 hour ago, kleggo said:

Did you read the article in Sunday's NYT? Apparently the reporter spoke to officials at the USDA and was met with conflicting stories and general ignorance of the situation.

Not Good.

Agreed.  This has the potential to get very bad, very fast.  We're now at the point of two infections, both controlled.  From here a lot of things could happen (from best to worst)

1) It could turn out that this virus simply has a hard time of moving from cows to humans, and it never gets to be a big problem.
2) It may be able to make the jump fairly easily to humans, but not be infectious in humans.  In that case, better protection of dairy workers solves it.
3) It may be able to make the jump fairly easily to humans, but not cause much harm to humans.  (i.e. conjunctivitis and that's it)
4) It may be able to make the jump and spread easily but not make people too sick.  In that case we'll see death tolls in the thousands.
5) It may be able to spread easily in humans, and then we may see a variant that's considerably worse - and we may see something in the COVID range.

While 1-2-3 is more likely, we should be preparing for 5.  Because the cost of preparation is far lower than the cost we will see if 5) comes to pass.