Bird flu in cows: alarm in the USA! Danger for people is growing!

Bird flu in cows: alarm in the USA! Danger for people is growing!

Last year the bird flu virus H5N1 was discovered in cows for the first time in the United States. According to a current study, the outbreak is due to contact with a wild bird, probably in the period from mid to late 2023 in Texas. Since then, the virus has spread in several states, including North Carolina, Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, Kansas and South Dakota, with other animals such as raccoons, cats and birds. We are currently experiencing the largest documented bird flu wave on several continents, which makes the health authorities listen.

In March 2024, a special form of the H5N1 virus was first found in milk cows in the USA for the first time, and the outbreak continues. So far, dozens of people have infected themselves, a person died. Experts therefore recommend additional measures to contain the virus to counteract a potential pandemic. However, the US health authorities rate the risk of the general population as currently low, as Krone reports.

background and risks

The H5N1 virus was identified in 1996 as a pathogen for geese in China. Between 2003 and 2019 there were 861 spillover events worldwide at people who had an alarming mortality rate of 50 %. A new subtype, Klade 2.3.4.4b, appeared in 2020 and quickly spread out in the bird populations. From 2022, the virus was also proven in various types of mammals, including seals and murmurs, and now it has been documented for the first time in cows in the USA, such as the [Medical Tribune] (https://www.medical-tribune.de/Medizin-und-forschung/artikel/h5n1-bei-kuehen----- und-and-ma recognition) reported.

The virus outbreak in cows is triggered by an infection of the cowuter. Affected cows show symptoms such as mastitis, a decline in milk production, changed milk consistency and fever. It is particularly worrying that high quantities of virus have been demonstrated in the milk of the infected cows, which increases the possibility of transmission to humans. So far there have been 70 humane H5N1 infections in the USA. The concern grows that the virus could change so that human-to-human transmission is possible.

effects on the agricultural sector

As a result of the H5N1 outbreak, over 160 million chickens were culed up in the United States, which led to a massive increase in egg prices. This could also have an impact on the prices of Easter eggs in Europe. The situation is critical through cuts in the US Agriculture Ministry, which have led to the termination of bird flu experts. Nevertheless, experts warn of the possibility of a H5N1 pandemic. Martin Beer, a virologist and vice president of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute, underlines the urgency of the necessary measures to prevent the spread of the virus while the Süddeutsche Zeitung indicates the risk of underestimating the situation.

Currently there are very few systematic studies in the United States to spread H5N1 virus among people and animals, which is sharply criticized by experts. These gaps in research raise questions about how the virus could spread further and which measures are urgently necessary to protect the public.