May 16, 2024 – Several U.S. agencies are working to contain a recent outbreak of avian flu among cattle, preventing further spread to humans (at least one case reported in early April) before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m working hard to put what I’ve learned to use. To keep farm workers and the general public safe.
Fingers crossed. bird flu You will be quarantined and petered out. Or the outbreak could continue to spread among dairy cows and other animals, threatening the health and livelihoods of farmers and others who work with livestock.
Or the virus may change in a way that makes it easier to infect and spread between people. If this happens, the worst-case scenario could be a new influenza pandemic.
Because there are so many unknowns, WebMD gathered experts from four federal agencies to talk about prevention, monitoring, and the “what ifs” of avian flu.
“Communicating with the public about what we know, what we don’t know, and how you and your families can stay safe is a top priority for CDC,” said Nirav D. Shah, MD, JD, CDC’s principal deputy director. . “We are responding at the federal level, and we hope the public will follow suit.”
You should refer to the CDC, FDA, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Office of Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) websites for updates.
It’s important to not only stay informed, but also to find reliable sources of information, Shah said in “Avian Flu 2024 – What You Need to Know,” an online briefing jointly sponsored by CDC and WebMD.
‘Experimental Hamburger’
If one important message came from this event, it is that the threat to the general public remains low.
Although retail milk supplies are safe, consuming raw or unpasteurized milk is not recommended. “Although commercial milk supplies are safe, we strongly advise against drinking raw milk,” said Donald A. Prater, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.
For other foods, fully cooked eggs pose less risk than raw eggs, and the domestic beef supply is also virus-free.
For years, federal investigators have been purchasing and testing meat from retail stores, said Eric Deeble, DVM, USDA deputy assistant secretary for the Office of Congressional Relations. To date, the avian influenza virus H5N1 has not been detected in beef.
The USDA went one step further and recently tested cooked ground beef from dairy cows in a lab. Using what Deeble described as an “experimental hamburger,” the agency showed that cooking beef above 165F would kill the virus when necessary.
The federal government now requires testing of all cattle. There is no bird flu Stop the virus before it crosses state lines. The government is also reimbursing farmers for veterinary treatment. loss of business Provide personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, masks, and face shields, to employees in response to the outbreak.
Vaccination is not recommended at this time
Federal scientists know enough about the H5N1 virus to quickly create a vaccine if needed. At this point, it’s more important to plan ahead. “Vaccines are not currently part of our response,” said Dr. David Boucher, director of pandemic preparedness and response at the Strategic Preparedness and Response Management.
If the virus changes and poses a greater threat to people, “we have the building blocks in place to produce a vaccine,” Boucher added.
An event attendee asked what protection the seasonal flu shot provides. “Unfortunately, the flu shot you got last year does not provide much protection against avian flu,” Shah responded. “It might have some effect… That’s the vaccine for seasonal flu. This is something newer.”
Stock up and prepare remedies
Antiviral drugs are now available that, if administered early in the course of avian flu infection, can shorten the severity or duration of the disease, Shah said. A person who was a dairy farmer be infected with bird flu I responded earlier this year. Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) treatmentfor example.
Regarding avian flu symptoms, Shah said it was interesting to note that the only case reported so far this year developed conjunctivitis, also known as conjunctivitis. Officials might have expected to see a more typical picture. Seasonal Flu SymptomsHe added:
“Influenza is not a new virus,” Boucher said. “No genetic markers associated with resistance to antiviral drugs are found in this type of influenza. “This means that the antiviral drugs we take for seasonal influenza can also be used to treat H5N1 if needed.”
ASPR has stockpiled Tamiflu and three other antiviral drugs. “We have tens of millions of courses that we can distribute across the country if needed,” he added.
“Influenza is an enemy we know very well,” Boucher said. That’s why “we have antivirals and a wide range of PPE available now.”
science in practice
The federal government plans to continue investigating this case. They will continue to monitor emergency room visits, lab test orders and wastewater samples for changes that suggest the risk of infectious diseases in humans is increasing.
“We’ve learned a lot, but there’s still a lot we don’t know,” Deeble said.
“As with any outbreak, things evolve and things can change,” Shah said. “What you’re seeing is science in action.”
For the latest updates on avian flu in the United States, visit CDC. H5N1 Avian Flu: Current Situation Summary Website.
