It is believed to be the primary identified case of avian flu in U.S. livestock.
Bird flu can unfold amongst people, however may be very uncommon
While chook flu is never seen in people, it shares most of the similar signs because the common flu.
Damien Henderson, Getty Images
Federal officers introduced on Monday that two dairy cows in Texas have tested positive for bird flu.
According to a recent report from USA TODAY, the extremely contagious pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) was found in unpasteurized scientific milk samples from one cow and in a swab from one other dairy cow in Texas final week. The virus was additionally discovered amongst cows at two dairy farms in Kansas.
What is ‘thriller dairy cow illness’?
Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller informed AP News that issues arose three weeks in the past when cattle began exhibiting signs of what officers described as a “thriller dairy cow illness.”
The sickness is primarily amongst older dairy cows, in accordance with a launch from the USDA. Miller stated the preliminary signs included a major drop in milk manufacturing, lethargy and decreased appetites, in accordance with AP.
“We hadn’t seen anything like it before,” he stated in an interview. “It was kind of like they had a cold.”
Wild birds could have contaminated Texas cows
Officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture suspect that wild birds contaminated the cows, as farms have reported discovering lifeless wild birds on their properties. For instance, earlier this month, the Texas Animal Health Commission declared an outbreak in two yard, non-commercial flocks in Moore and Deaf Smith counties, each located within the Panhandle, totaling over 260 birds.
It’s believed to be the primary occasion of chook flu in U.S. livestock, though the virus has been detected in different mammals beforehand. For instance, a skunk examined constructive in Carson County simply over a 12 months in the past, marking the primary mammal within the state to check constructive.
Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced earlier this month the virus in juvenile goats on a farm in Minnesota, the place a flock of poultry additionally examined constructive.
More: At least 7,000 cows have died in historic Texas wildfires, official says
How many animals have died of chook flu?
The most recent outbreak of avian flu, brought on by the H5N1 pressure, was first recognized in Europe in late 2020. Although the pressure has existed for a number of many years — first recognized in waterfowl in Southern China in 1996, in accordance with the CDC — it has escalated in recent years.
The virus has led to the deaths of roughly 57 million animals, marking the poultry trade’s largest hit since one other main outbreak claimed the lives of greater than 50 million birds in 2014-2015.
What are indicators of chook flu?
Symptoms of chook flu embrace:
- Loss of urge for food, lethargy.
- Death with out prior signs.
- Eyelid swelling.
- Twisting of the top and neck.
- Purple discoloration to physique components, together with legs.
More: 1.3 million chickens to be culled after bird flu detected at Ohio farm
Can chook flu unfold to people?
According to the USDA, preliminary testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratories has not recognized any adjustments to the virus that may improve its transmissibility to people, and it isn’t at present a danger to people.
Will the chook flu outbreak impression milk provide?
Currently, there is no such thing as a concern concerning the protection of the industrial milk provide or the potential danger the outbreak may pose to client well being. The USDA mandates that dairies should ship solely milk from wholesome animals for human consumption processing. Milk from affected animals is being diverted or destroyed and doesn’t enter the availability for human consumption.
Furthermore, pasteurization, which is a requirement for industrial milk, has a historic observe document of successfully deactivating micro organism and viruses, akin to Influenza.
