Category: Avian Influenza
Unprecedented Avian Flu Outbreak Continues
Science Friday Podcast, link to audio file at the link above. Avian influenza has been circulating for decades among wild birds, but the US is now experiencing the worst outbreak in its history. That’s because of a specific strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza, which has left around 60 millions birds—mostly poultry—dead. This has implications for […]
Jun 20, 2023
Experts warn bird flu virus changing rapidly in largest ever outbreak
Japan Today The virus causing record cases of avian influenza in birds across the world is changing rapidly, experts have warned, as calls increase for countries to vaccinate their poultry. While emphasising that the risk to humans remains low, the experts who spoke to AFP said that the surging number of bird flu cases in […]
Jun 14, 2023
More than 11,000 animals have died from bird flu in Chile
cooperativa The authorities corroborated the death of 9,853 sea lions, 1,555 Humboldt penguins, 27 chungungos, 21 spiny porpoises, 14 Chilean dolphins and one mane. Senapesca made a balance this Monday on the advance of bird flu in Chile, detailing that a total of 11,471 specimens have died as a result of this influenza. Of this universe, the […]
Jun 14, 2023
Bird Flu Detected in Mammals in Peru
CGTN Since 2022 some parts of the world have experienced the worst avian influenza outbreak ever. From Condors in California to seabirds in Gambia, the avian flu is killing birds all over. But it’s also begun to spread to mammals. Dan Collyns tells us how the virus has infected thousands of sea lions in Peru. […]
Jun 6, 2023
For These Bird Flu Researchers, Work Is a Day at the Very ‘Icky’ Beach
NYT The H5N1 virus poses “a great unknown threat” to birds and humans alike. Understanding and thwarting it begins with excrement collection. It was a glorious day for field work on the shores of the Delaware Bay. The late afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the gently sloping beach. The receding tide revealed a […]
Jun 6, 2023
Bird flu outbreak more virulent than ever recorded – study
JP While the viruses’ risk to humans remains low, the researchers noted only a few amino acid changes are needed for that to change. The ongoing outbreak of avian influenza, which began in late 2021 in Europe and the Americas, has been marked by rapid genetic changes and highly increased virulence in both birds and mammals, […]
Jun 6, 2023
Genetic change increased bird flu severity during U.S. spread
NewsWise St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital scientists discovered how the current epizootic H5N1 avian influenza virus (bird flu) gained new genes and greater virulence as it spread west. Researchers showed that the avian virus could severely infect the brains of mammalian research models, a notable departure from previous related strains of the virus. The researchers […]
May 30, 2023
Some 25 types of mammals died in latest bird flu outbreak
Reuters About 25 types of mammals have died in the latest bird flu outbreak, a larger number than in previous ones, increasing the risk of the virus turning into a pandemic, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said. Cases of the disease, officially called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), have been detected in mammals in […]
May 23, 2023
If bird flu starts to spread among people, existing vaccines may be inadequate, experts say
NBC News The current U.S. stockpile of H5N1 flu shots likely won’t offer much protection in the event of a pandemic, vaccine researchers said. Wild birds and poultry flocks alike continue to drop dead from the highly pathogenic bird flu that began spreading globally in 2020. Almost 59 million commercial birds have already been culled in the United States. It’s the broadest […]
May 23, 2023
Bird flu: Brazil declares animal health emergency after several cases found
BBC Seven cases have been reported in Espirito Santo state, with another discovered in Rio de Janeiro state. The emergency declaration makes it easier for the government to now bring in measures to stop the highly infectious H5N1 virus from spreading. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of chicken meat, with annual sales of nearly […]
May 23, 2023