What began in early 2022 has turned into an ongoing and increasingly alarming outbreak of bird flu. The threat is currently limited to poultry At least 58 million birds and transmission Sky high egg prices. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms that The public health threat remains low, which means that people who don’t work or spend time with birds are not at risk. A must for those who work near birds, including poultry workers and hunters Take precautionsincluding wearing gloves and protection devices.
Now, amid fears that the virus is starting to spread among people and the fact that it continues to destroy farms across the country, US government officials are Consider vaccinating poultryAccording to a report by the New York Times. The Times reports that a mass bird flu vaccination campaign targeting poultry will be the first in the United States, but some testing of potential poultry vaccines is under way.
“There are a range of options that the United States regularly considers when there is an outbreak that could affect the safety and security of the United States food supply,” a spokesperson for the National Security Council told CNET. “Currently, we are focused on promoting and enhancing high-impact biosafety practices and procedures.”
As long as animals and humans live, work, and congregate around each other, there will be a risk that viruses will mutate enough to pass from species to species. Fortunately, bird flu affecting humans has so far been rare, in part because the virus does not spread easily from animals to humans, or between humans. Recently, two family members contracted bird flu in Cambodia, and one of them died. The Centers for Disease Control said Note early March that both conditions were likely caused by bird-to-human contact near the common home, and that there is no evidence of human-to-human spread at present. There was also one human condition In the United States, someone who has been in direct contact with birds has. (This US case may also be a result of the virus Infection of the nasal passagesrather than causing actual injury.)
However, some “sporadic” human cases of bird flu in the United States “would not be surprising,” given the number of sick birds as well as infections in people in other countries who have been exposed to bird flu, the CDC reported. in November statement. But the fact that bird flu is still spreading widely More species are exposed to the virus He keeps the door open until the virus has adapted to pass from person to person. If, or when, bird flu starts to spread from person to person, that will create a problem, according to Dr. Meg Schaefer, an epidemiologist and national public health advisor for the SAS Institute, a data-analysis company.
said Shafer, who has been working on updating public health data, including some work with the CDC and the USDA. Even more disturbing, she said, is that scientists may not be able to detect it quickly if it spreads abroad where bird flu is currently being monitored, in People who respond to sick poultrymeaning:
“It will probably start happening before we know it.”
Here’s what you need to know about avian influenza, or avian influenza.
What is bird flu?
Avian influenza, also known as avian influenzaIt is a disease caused by infection with influenza A viruses. These viruses can circulate among birds around the world and rarely infect humans, most of whom work directly with infected birds. If the viruses mutate enoughThe public health concern is that they might make the leap to spread between humans. Avian influenza was first discovered and controlled in 1997, but it was It appeared in 2003 And it began to spread widely among birds.
The most common avian influenza virus in the world H5N1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2003, more than 880 human cases of earlier strains of H5N1 in humans have been reported.
The influenza viruses that cause avian influenza are either “low pathogenic” or “highly pathogenic. “Highly pathogenic avian influenza can cause severe illness or death in poultry, and it is these conditions that cause The US Department of Agriculture is reporting. Both low- and high-pathogenic viruses cause mild to severe disease in infected humans.
WHO reports Four types of influenza virusesThe World Health Organization says A, B, C and D viruses, which occur in both humans and different types of animals, are the greatest threat to public health and can cause epidemics. the “Swine Flu” Pandemic 2009 It was caused by a type A virus. seasonal influenza viruses In humans it is caused by viruses of types A and B.
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Is it fatal?
Although human cases are still rare, About half of all previous human infections with H5N1 virus The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. But as the agency noted in April Statement on the human condition of avian influenza, the current H5N1 virus appears to be different from previous strains.
But because of the potential for a serious health threat, the World Health Organization, CDC, and USDA are closely monitoring outbreaks in the United States and other countries. The CDC said it may “A candidate vaccine virus has been producedIf necessary, in response to a potential public health threat.
Where is she in the US? How is it monitored?
Avian influenza has been detected Reported by the US Department of Agriculture In wild and domestic birds in most US states – 46, as of early November advertisement.
Henry Niemann, a Pittsburgh biochemist, was Track outbreaks (like mentioned by The New York Times), and its map provides a visual representation of the outbreak across the country.
The first case was in a wild bird in South Carolina. Other cases have been reported in some backyard flocks as well as some poultry farms, where animals are raised commercially for food. The US Department of Agriculture said that any birds from flocks with cases of avian influenza would not enter the diet.
Karen Moskowitz/Getty Images
Can people get bird flu? Here are the precautions to take
Birds can transmit the avian influenza virus into their home saliva, feces and mucus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People can get sick by breathing in the virus or by touching their eyes, nose, or mouth. Most cases of human bird flu have been reported in people who work directly with birds.
To avoid getting sick, avoid contact with wild birds, do not touch dead or sick birds that you see, and avoid visiting bird markets or farms if you are traveling to another country, According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additional precautions or monitoring may be taken if you do Work directly with the birdsIf you are catching birds or if you are health care worker. If you have been in contact with an infected bird, contact your local or state health department. Here is a directory of local health departments in the United States.
To avoid contamination from poultry of any kind, be sure to handle poultry and eggs properly, and thoroughly cook them up to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, says the USDA, to kill bacteria and viruses.
You can also report a dead bird to your local health department or wildlife agency, which will help public health officials track not only avian influenza but also viruses like West Nile virus. Reporting dead birds may be especially important if you see more than one of them.
The information in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice. Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have about a medical condition or health goals.
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