Category: Avian Influenza
16-Year-Old Cambodian Girl Tests Positive For Bird Flu
MENAFN hnom Penh, Aug 4 (IANS) A 16-year-old girl from southeast Cambodia’s Svay Rieng province was confirmed to have H5N1 bird flu, bringing the total number of cases to nine since the start of 2024, according to a Ministry of Health’s statement. “Laboratory results from the National Institute of Public health showed on Saturday that the girl was positive […]
Aug 6, 2024
Scientists Show How Bird Flu Spreads Between Mammals — As H5N1 Pandemic Fears Grow
Forbes Scientists have proven how cows have spread H5N1 bird flu across the country and infected other cows, wild birds and even mammals like cats and raccoons, according to research published in Nature Wednesday, findings that suggest it may be capable of spreading effectively between people in the future as outbreaks on poultry and dairy farms spark […]
Aug 6, 2024
Blowflies are potential vector for avian influenza virus at enzootic area in Japan
Nature High pathogenicity avian influenza (HPAI) poses a significant threat to both domestic and wild birds globally. The avian influenza virus, known for environmental contamination and subsequent oral infection in birds, necessitates careful consideration of alternative introduction routes during HPAI outbreaks. This study focuses on blowflies (genus Calliphora), in particular Calliphora nigribarbis, attracted to decaying animals and […]
Aug 6, 2024
Blowflies carry bird flu virus
Cosmos New research has identified a potential new transmission route for bird flu – blowflies of the genus Calliphora. Japanese scientists collected blowflies near a wild crane colony in Izumi city, Kagoshima Prefecture, during an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Of the 648 blowflies collected, 14 were found to be carrying the virus. “While 14 […]
Aug 6, 2024
Bird Flu Cases Are Going Undetected, New Study Suggests
MedPage Today A new study lends weight to fears that more livestock workers have gotten the bird flu than has been reported. “I am very confident there are more people being infected than we know about,” said Gregory Gray, the infectious disease researcher at the University of Texas Medical Branch who led the study, posted online […]
Aug 6, 2024
US to spend $10 million to curb bird flu in farm workers, including vaccine push
Reuters The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday it plans to spend $10 million to curb farm worker bird flu infections, including $5 million for seasonal flu vaccines, as part of its efforts to avoid further spread and mutation of the virus. The ongoing outbreak of bird flu has infected poultry flocks in […]
Jul 31, 2024
The latest bird flu concern: county fairs
Axios The quintessential summer pastime of going to the county fair could carry some risk this year with the threat of bird flu hanging over livestock exhibits and throngs of visitors, experts say. Why it matters: The mingling of animals, people and equipment at 4-H competitions, milking demonstrations and petting farms creates the conditions for potential transmission to […]
Jul 31, 2024
Is New York Ready for Bird Flu?
NYT The state has stockpiled only one drug, which dates to the ’90s, to fight the disease if it spreads to the human population. One infectious disease expert says it could be an Achilles’ heel someday: New York’s plan for fighting bird flu, if it begins spreading among people, largely depends on one drug developed […]
Jul 31, 2024
CDC will offer seasonal flu shots to farmworkers to lower bird flu risk
STAT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Tuesday that it is funding a $5 million program to vaccinate livestock industry workers against seasonal flu in a bid to reduce the pandemic risk posed by the ongoing H5N1 bird flu outbreak in cattle. The voluntary program, which will be administered by state and local public health […]
Jul 30, 2024
New York’s Preparations for a Bird Flu Pandemic Rely on a Single Drug
NYT New York’s plan for confronting bird flu if it begins spreading among people relies heavily on a vast stockpile of flu treatment medicine. But experts worry the stockpile is missing a key tool. New York has only one type of flu antiviral drug, Tamiflu, which might prove less effective than hoped against a pandemic […]
Jul 30, 2024