Author: Claudinne Miller
Bird Flu Virus Has Been Spreading in U.S. Cows for Months
Scientific American A strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza has been silently spreading in US cattle for months, according to preliminary analysis of genomic data. The outbreak is likely to have begun when the virus jumped from an infected bird into a cow, probably around late December or early January. This implies a protracted, undetected spread of the virus — suggesting […]
Apr 30, 2024
The jump in measles cases in 2023 is ‘very concerning’ says WHO official
NPR Over the past 20 years, there’s been a lot of progress when it comes to combating measles. But the World Health Organization’s latest global numbers, released this past weekend, are “very concerning,” says Dr. Patrick O’Connor, the WHO’s medical officer for measles and rubella. Measles cases increased worldwide from more than 170,000 cases in 2022 to […]
Apr 30, 2024
Patch to protect against measles in children shows promise
BBC The device – the size of a sticking plaster – is easier to transport and store than standard injections, especially in remote areas. Measles is a very contagious disease which is common in children, and can kill. Protecting vulnerable children worldwide is a priority, experts say. Microscopic needles Despite the existence of a very […]
Apr 30, 2024
Is Chicken Feces Behind The Bird Flu Outbreaks In Cows? Here’s What To Know.
Forbes Bird flu outbreaks have affected 34 dairy cow herds across nine states, causing some to question whether the use of contaminated poultry litter as cow feed may be the source of transmission, though experts say not enough is known to draw this conclusion. Poultry litter (also known as chicken or broiler litter) is a mixture […]
Apr 30, 2024
Epidemiologic Survey of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus in Suids, Spain
CDC We conducted a cross-sectional study in wild boar and extensively managed Iberian pig populations in a hotspot area of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) in Spain. We tested for antibodies against CCHFV by using 2 ELISAs in parallel. We assessed the presence of CCHFV RNA by means of reverse transcription quantitative PCR protocol, which […]
Apr 30, 2024
Could bird flu cause a human pandemic?
Vox Here’s what’s worrying experts right now about H5N1’s spread among dairy cows — and what isn’t. Last year, when an H5N1 avian flu virus — commonly known as bird flu — was spilling over from bird populations into a variety of wild mammals, Seema Lakdawala, a virologist and influenza A transmission specialist at Emory […]
Apr 30, 2024
4 more cats test positive for H5N1 bird flu in the U.S.
BNO News Four more cats have tested positive for H5N1 bird flu in connection with a growing outbreak in dairy cows in the United States, according to state and federal officials, raising the number of cases in the current outbreak to seven. Sonja Olsen, the Associate Director of Preparedness and Response at CDC’s Influenza Division, […]
Apr 30, 2024
Svalbard, Norway: Walrus dies from bird flu on Arctic island
Straights Times The first case of a walrus dying from bird flu has been detected on one of Norway’s Arctic islands, a researcher said April 29. The walrus was found last year on Hopen island in the Svalbard archipelago, Mr Christian Lydersen, of the Norwegian Polar Institute, told AFP. Tests carried out by a German […]
Apr 30, 2024
The avian flu has been detected in Colorado cows. Here’s what that means for you
CPR.ORG The highly pathogenic avian flu has been spreading across the United States since spring 2022, but the disease, which has primarily infected waterfowl and domestic poultry, has now begun to impact another major agricultural species: cows. Since late March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has detected 34 cases of avian flu in cows across […]
Apr 30, 2024
America’s Infectious-Disease Barometer Is Off
Somehow, the U.S. is both over- and under-reacting to bird flu and other pressing infectious threats. The Atlantic he ongoing outbreak of H5N1 avian flu virus looks a lot like a public-health problem that the United States should be well prepared for. Although this version of flu is relatively new to the world, scientists have been tracking […]
Apr 30, 2024