United States: Amid the ongoing spread of avian influenza within American dairy herds, federal authorities emphasized heightened risks of transmission to humans. The US Department of Agriculture disclosed that since late March, bird flu has afflicted 94 dairy herds across a dozen states.
The transmission among these farms is believed to stem from animal movements, shared personnel, and the cross-contamination facilitated by vehicles and equipment that traverse between locations. Kammy Johnson, a veterinary epidemiologist at the USDA, underscored these factors during a briefing with the press, according to reports by US News.
Johnson emphasized the criticality of rigorous biosecurity measures such as thorough equipment sanitation and restricted movement of ill animals to mitigate further virus propagation.
Nirav Shah, principal deputy director at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), underscored that while the current public health risk remains low, increased viral spread could heighten the risk of human infections.
Shah highlighted, “As bovine infections rise, so too does the potential for human transmission,” as per US News.
According to Shah, the CDC has monitored over 500 individuals and conducted tests on at least 45 during this outbreak. Notably, three dairy farm workers have tested positive since the virus first surfaced within these agricultural settings.