.Scott Gottlieb, MD, former FDA commissioner on US bird flu response: “There’s always a tension between the human health people and animal health people. The human health people would swab anything; animal health worry more about economic implications.”on.ft.com/3JMEgUy

A highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) infection was identified in a dairy farm worker in Texas. This pathogen has been reported in multiple dairy herds in several states. Read the report by Dr. Timothy M. Uyeki of CDC and others: nej.md/3UrljM9 #IDTwitter

How many human #H5N1 infections are linked to U.S. dairy cattle outbreaks? One, officially.

But as The Associated Press reports, scientists are trying — and struggling — to confirm reports of illness among farm workers. Officials say about two dozen people tested so far:
apnews.com/article/bird-f…

A USDA analysis shows the spread in cattle started from a single spillover event from birds in the Texas panhandle that may have happened in early December. trib.al/jFGexD8

Scientists are frustrated that the USDA again failed to include basic information about H5N1 genetic sequences from cows when the data were released this week. trib.al/23Wdevh

Further evidence that #H5N1 struck U.S. dairy cattle through a single spillover event (likely in December 2023, around 3 months before the first reported infections) and then kept spreading, according to more research outlined here by Dr. Angela Rasmussen:

NEW: Biden officials warn of risks to ‘certain groups’ of people amid bird flu outbreak in cows

State health labs have sent “around 25” human test samples to CDC, but feds are declining to say which states they're from

w Marcia Brown 🌸 Chelsea Cirruzzo

politico.com/news/2024/05/0…

.FDA says pasteurization does appear to kill #H5N1 #birdflu in milk, and sour cream and cottage cheese too. Megan Molteni reports. statnews.com/2024/05/01/bir…

Federal officials say there's still no sign of H5N1 bird flu appearing in Canadian dairy cows.
But scientists warn limited surveillance means Canada might not be staying ahead of the outbreak impacting dairy cattle south of the border. cbc.ca/news/health/bi… .

Here’s what Canada is doing (and not doing) to watch for #H5N1 amid an explosive outbreak among U.S. dairy cattle — and why Canadian scientists warn we’re already way behind this virus without active surveillance.

New from me:
cbc.ca/news/health/bi…

An-in depth look at what scientists know so far about how #H5N1 transmits between cows and why more human infections could already be happening, plus the many burning questions we don’t yet have answers to, from STAT’ Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 & Megan Molteni:
statnews.com/2024/04/30/h5n…

Here’s what Canada is doing (and not doing) to watch for #H5N1 amid an explosive outbreak among U.S. dairy cattle — and why Canadian scientists warn we’re already way behind this virus without active surveillance.

New from me:
cbc.ca/news/health/bi…

Early release of CDC report on #H5N1 notes:

➡️Signs of systemic illness in dairy cattle, 'abundant virus shedding in milk'
➡️High death rate (≈50%) of farm cats fed raw colostrum/milk
➡️Suggests cross-species, mammal-to-mammal transmission

Source:
wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/30…

NEW: U.S. Department of Agriculture now says it is testing ground beef in states with #H5N1 outbreaks in dairy cows but remains confident the meat supply is safe, Reuters reports. Dept. of Agriculture will analyze ground beef samples to determine 'whether any viral particles are present.'

#Alberta is emerging from its deadliest flu season in 15 years, Jen Lee reports. Provincial data shows 167 people died of influenza during the 2023-24 flu season, eclipsing all other seasons dating back to 2009:
cbc.ca/news/canada/ca…

Experts say the the danger associated with raw milk consumption may have gone to a whole new level as bird flu spreads among cows. trib.al/D9Glj8P

NEW: Changes could be coming to Ontario's MedsCheck program in the wake of a CBC News investigation into allegations that Shoppers Drug Mart put corporate pressure on pharmacists to hit billing targets.
Reporting by Angelina King & Nicole Brockbank
cbc.ca/news/canada/to…