H5N1 Avian Flu aka. HPAI

Infected herds in California are seeing mortality rates as high as 15% or 20%, compared to 2% in other states, said Keith Poulsen, a veterinarian and director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory who has researched bird flu.

Bringing the total up to 11.

Total now 11 cases for those counting.

Risk is still low as this is animal to human spread. Possible two other infections pending confirmation.

Total in California is now possibly five

None of them have tested positive for H5N1 thus far, but something to keep an eye on.

https://tinalexander.github.io/notes/2024/04#texas-health-department-on-reported-h5n1-symptoms-around-amarillo

So far there is only one confirmed human case. Rick Bright, an expert on the H5N1 virus who served on President Joe Biden's coronavirus advisory board, told me this is the crucial moment. "There's a fine line between one person and 10 people with H5N1," he said. "By the time we've detected 10, it's probably too late" to contain.

Interesting interview worth a read.

However, it does take around 30 to 45 days for those clinically infected cows to recover fully from the process. And that being said, we have some cows that do not fully recover milk production, in that month to a month and a half period.

They are not actively monitoring infections in pigs, which are famously effective hosts for evolving flu viruses, and which are often kept in proximity to cattle. And officials have said they have “no concern” about the safety of milk, despite a lack of hard data.

“It’s really about folks who are in environments where they may be interacting with cattle that are infected with this virus,” said Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In a joint report released today, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) outline the contributing drivers for influenza A(H5N1) viruses to acquire the ability to spread efficiently among humans, thereby increasing their pandemic potential. The report also addresses which mitigation measures could be implemented in animals and humans to reduce the risk to human health.