Quick takes: More avian flu in US dairy cattle

News brief
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Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)
  • The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) updated its case counts of H5N1-infected dairy herds late last week, confirming 121 cases in 12 states since the beginning of the outbreak. There have been 58 confirmed cases in the last month, with Idaho reporting the most recent cases with 17 livestock herds affected in the past month.
  • On Saturday the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship reported another affected dairy herd in Sioux County, raising the state’s total to 11 detections within dairy herds in Iowa.
  • A team of USDA epidemiologists have traced H5N1 viral spread in Michigan to a single dairy herd unknowingly introduced in the spring to infected dairy cows from Texas, according to a story in the Toledo Blade.
  • US Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack called on farmers to enhance biosecurity measures and to opt into USDA support programs and herd monitoring programs. In an editorial in Agri-Pulse, Vilsack said, "Farmers are going to lead the charge, but they won’t need to do it alone. USDA is here to support them every day and we will continue to do all we can to protect animal and human health."

This week's top reads

  1. As measles cases near 100, Texas health officials probe exposures at 2 universities

    New Mexico reported more cases in an adjacent county, with a few new confirmations from Texas in the community around Dallam and Hartley counties.

    Lisa Schnirring
    UTSA

  2. Posey County, Indiana, reports its first CWD case, second in the state

    The county is in southwestern Indiana, on the border with Illinois and Kentucky, both of which are CWD-positive.

    Mary Van Beusekom

  3. CDC: 13% of kids who died from flu this year had brain damage

    The study involved 68 US children who died from seasonal flu this season.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    brain MRI

  4. FDA cancels advisory committee meeting on flu vaccine strain selection

    The Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee was scheduled to meet March 13 to select virus strains for the 2025-26 flu vaccine.

    Chris Dall
    Vaccine being prepared

  5. 'Exceptionally rare' mutation on H5N1 virus in Canada tied to antiviral drug resistance

    The mutation doesn't appear to reduce viral fitness, as evidenced by its rapid spread, the authors say.

    Mary Van Beusekom

  6. Tests rule out Ebola, Marburg in DR Congo unexplained illness clusters

    In the first of the 2 outbreaks, affected children had contact with bats. Further investigations are under way for both events.

    Lisa Schnirring

  7. US flu still high, COVID low but elevated in some areas, RSV declining, CDC says

    The CDC says it does not anticipate posting any more updates on US respiratory disease activity this season.

    Mary Van Beusekom
    Hospitalized patient

  8. Data suggest Paxlovid doesn't reduce severe COVID in older, vaccinated adults

    Pfizer’s initial clinical trials on the drug were conducted on unvaccinated adults.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    pax

  9. Kennedy minimizes measles outbreak in wake of Texas death

    In other measles news, Kentucky has reported a case in an adult who had recently traveled internationally. 

    Stephanie Soucheray

  10. More than half of COVID-19 ECMO patients die in hospital, while survivors often struggle long term, study finds

    Only 11% of survivors resumed full-time work by 6 months, while 12% went back to part-time work.

    Stephanie Soucheray
    ECMO machine

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