H5N1 Bird Flu Detected in U.S. Dairy Farms, Raising Pandemic Concerns
The H5N1 virus, primarily affecting birds, has been found in dairy cattle and poses potential risks for human transmission.
- H5N1 bird flu virus has been circulating in U.S. dairy farms, with genetic material found in 20% of milk samples.
- The virus, which is lethal in humans, has not shown sustained human-to-human transmission but could evolve to do so.
- Public health response remains low despite potential for a new pandemic, with pasteurization confirmed to kill the virus in milk.
- Only one confirmed case of H5N1 in a farm worker has been reported, amid concerns of under-testing and possible wider spread.
- Outbreaks of the virus in mammals have been increasing globally, affecting wildlife populations and raising ecological concerns.