Recent reports indicate a significant outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) affecting both avian and mammalian species, including dairy cattle, across multiple countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed severe concerns regarding the potential for high mortality rates and the spread to humans. Notably, a dairy worker in Texas has been infected, likely from cattle, marking a concerning development in the cross-species transmission of the virus. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been criticized for its minimal disclosure regarding the outbreaks, which has led to calls for more transparency and data sharing to better assess risks and coordinate responses. Additionally, the WHO and other health experts are urgently calling for increased efforts in vaccine development and preventive measures to address the ongoing crisis. Jeremy Farrar, WHO’s chief scientist, has labeled the situation a 'global zoonotic animal pandemic.' From 2003 to 2024, 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported worldwide. In the U.S., 28 herds in eight states have been infected.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said this week that cow-to-cow transmission is a factor in the spread of #birdflu in dairy herds, but it still does not know exactly how the virus is being moved around. https://t.co/x7jdLTLJ0V
World Health Organization’s top scientist said this week the recent #birdflu outbreak is of great concern to public health, and #vaccine development to halt the virus is not where we need to be. https://t.co/812donkvA1
1. @CDCgov issued a statement today explaining what it's doing to assess the risk to people of #H5N1 #birdflu in dairy cows. Among their actions: monitoring ER visit data from hospitals near outbreaks looking for an increase in flu-like illness or conjunctivitis. No far, none… https://t.co/sPz44xgdBw
The WHO we should be taking action to prevent bird flu. U.S. health officials say the country is ready to ramp up vaccine production. https://t.co/m0UgETlokj
Is There More To This Current Bird Flu Panic Than Meets The Eye? https://t.co/MbzFp5jwWN
"WHO's top scientist sounds alarm about bird flu and need for vaccine development." (via @USATODAY) https://t.co/AEdFulL56k
Opinion: "The U.S. must act decisively, acknowledging the potential gravity of the H5N1 situation while leveraging every available resource to safeguard public health. The stakes are too high to repeat past mistakes." https://t.co/HCzAd3xQUW
New strains of bird flu are threatening American agriculture as we know it, killing millions of chickens, infecting cows and now even humans. The Biden Administration has been recklessly working with a lab in Wuhan to conduct gain-of-function research. As we learned from COVID,… https://t.co/zKFzQvT2fL
Quick takes: USDA reports avian flu in one more dairy herd, more US mpox cases, polio in Africa With the virus now reported in five Michigan dairy herds, state health officials reminded residents to avoid drinking raw unpasteurized milk. https://t.co/Jxpy4gQKVp
In a recent outbreak of avian flu, the virus has jumped from birds to cows and to one dairy worker. @Nichola_HillTop from @UMass joins us to provide some context. https://t.co/ifKjO5xIHg
CFIA monitoring for avian flu in Canadian dairy cattle after U.S. discoveries https://t.co/ZXeZnDuu3L
With 28 herds in eight states infected with H5N1, scientists are calling on the U.S. to release more data to help them assess the risk. https://t.co/gvmi3Bpd8a
A Predictable Pandemic Playbook @twc_health CEO @PeterGillooly talks with @jfradioshow about ramped-up fearmongering over the avian flu. Gillooly says he’s more concerned with the USDA and the Chinese Academy of Sciences' gain-of-function experiments on the H5N1 bird flu strain.… https://t.co/sCRuSPG87I
The World Health Organisation is concerned about the continuing spread of bird flu in mammals. Last year, our “Babbage” podcast investigated why this outbreak is worrying experts everywhere https://t.co/2pQWfJ9GkJ 👇
On #H5N1 in @statnews by Drs Borio & Krause--> we are behind on diagnostics, therapeutics, vaccines, and cleaner air if/when this virus heads further in the wrong direction. https://t.co/wj3hqNTecG
“Congressional funding is needed to catalyze rapid vaccine development and production,” write @llborio and @DrPhilKrause on the recent detection of H5N1 bird flu in cattle. https://t.co/pFMv1DYHAM
Other countries are operating largely in the dark on H5N1 #BirdFlu because the U.S. has released such sparse information. Scientists and pandemic experts are calling for change. https://t.co/KdVWCRG7pD
Bird flu is ravaging mammals worldwide & the pandemic clock is ticking. Convalescent plasma will again be our first-line therapy. H/t @ACasadevall1 @DrMJoyner @andrewpekosz @fabrizi66265683 @PeacockFlu @thijskuiken @MarionKoopmans @bjarijn @Tuliodna https://t.co/56ouwFTofH
.@HelenBranswell : USDA faulted for disclosing scant information about outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu in cattle https://t.co/p1QkLFCW6D via @statnews
🪿Which bird and mammalian species have been affected by the Influenza A #H5N1 #AvianFlu panzootic ? @FAO has a list https://t.co/GzuLdiECcy
“From 2003 to 2024, 889 cases and 463 deaths caused by H5N1 have been reported worldwide from 23 countries, according to the WHO, putting the case fatality rate at 52%.” 🦠🇺🇸🌎 https://t.co/d9um4xC71l
WHO’s chief scientist Jeremy Farrar labelled the A(H5N1) variant as a "global zoonotic animal pandemic." He sounded alarm over the virus spreading to humans. #birdflu https://t.co/UUyFz2ZBzf
Should you be worried about the spread of bird flu among 🐄dairy cows🐄? More in the Prognosis newsletter: https://t.co/gzz59r7NI5 via @business
Fresh bird flu pandemic fears as WHO warns outbreak is of 'enormous concern' and would have 'extraordinarily high' death rates https://t.co/oYFq88OWql https://t.co/eat8U76h3w
#BirdFlu Outbreak In #Kerala Sparks Concerns; What WHO Said On Impact On Humans Read more: https://t.co/H85SIG1nib https://t.co/rjxfJU1rxJ
Fascinating language from USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service about voluntary testing of dairy herds for H5N1. Despite avian flu being incredibly dangerous, the powerful agricultural lobby is being treated with kid gloves by the federal government. https://t.co/sDwWw4Clr0
The CDC reported a case of bird flu in a dairy worker in Texas who likely contracted the virus from cattle. Here’s what to know, Dr. Leana Wen writes: https://t.co/L5z4Nh6rAD
How is bird flu spreading in dairy cattle? Here's where the clues are pointing — and what it could mean to Canada https://t.co/Zh8KY2AtEL
Bird flu reported in Kerala's Alapuzzha. How to stay safe? https://t.co/wZy9bPNcw3 https://t.co/31P9jRVTwu