From 2003 to 25 Mar 2024, a total of 888 worldwide human cases of influenza A(H5N1), 463 deaths (52% CFR), reported to WHO from 23 countries. Almost all cases of human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) linked to close contact with infected live or dead birds, or contaminated environments... Avian flu outbreaks among birds now number >1100 in the US -across 48 states. Basically be cautious around any birds that you encounter for the near future bc🚨~50% mortality-."
-E Feigl-Ding
The largest producer of fresh eggs in the US said Tues it had temporarily halted production at a Texas plant after bird flu was found in chickens, & officials said the virus had also been detected at a poultry facility in MI.
This informative article alleviates the concern for human transmission of #BirdFlu, for now, but it doesn't rule out future problems for the supply chain, increasing deaths of animals, the spread of the virus in birds, cattle...:
I want to be clear that I'm not alarmist on H5N1 at this point, but, the way the CDC keeps phrasing "person-to-person in the U.S." like it's the only place where viruses spread in the world seems like really weird hedging to me. There has been person to person spread in the past, although not sustained.
I would also quibble with "The U.S. has not had any confirmed cases of bird flu in cats or dogs." I think the jury's just out on that. It's been reported that cats on a dairy farm in Texas had died of bird flu, and I do believe that to be the case, but the Texas Department of Health and Human Services actual health alert was a little vague on that:
"In March 2024, samples were collected and tested for influenza from several animals in Texas and Kansas. These animals, including wild birds, cats, and dairy cows, were tested because they exhibited signs of illness. Some of the animals tested positive for influenza. Further testing of these samples indicated the presence of avian influenza A(H5N1)."
Fair to say the cats died unexpectedly of something at a location where H5N1 was confirmed. It doesn't seem hard to connect the dots from there.
I just think we should be very clear on these things so people trust the info they're being given as much as possible, rather than obfuscating information.
Ground-up chicken waste fed to cattle may be behind bird flu outbreak in US cows. Experts warn that lax regs could see the virus spread to US pig farms *serious consequences for human health.
In contrast to Britain & Europe, American farmers are still allowed to feed cattle & other farm animals ground-up waste from other animals incl. birds. The virus has already killed millions of animals worldwide since 2021.
The CDC is monitoring #BirdFlu🚨, & the USDA is looking at the 'tainted feed".
"CDC warns clinicians to look out for bird flu cases -sent out the warning after a confirmed case of human infection *TX in Mar & sending a warning to clinicians & sf. health depts re new cases of H5N1 *bird flu, saying that while the threat to humans remains low -situation is being taken "very seriously."
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