The Ministry of Agriculture announced on Wednesday that Nevada's dairy cows are infected with a new form of bird flu, which is different from the versions that have spread last year.
The discovery indicates that the virus known as H5N1 spilled at least twice from a bird. It also suggests that viruses can bring sustainable risks to those who cooperate with cows and them.
Last year, scientists did not know that cows were susceptible to this type of flu.
“This is not the case that no one wanted to see,” said Louise Moncura, an advanced biologist studying bird flu at the University of Pennsylvania. “We need to take into account the possibility that the cows are more susceptible to these viruses than we first thought.”
The news was announced in a news release from Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, one of the Ministry of Agriculture. Federation government agencies have not been doing New Briefing on bird flu since President Trump took office.
The virus spreading in the country's dairy products is a version of H5N1, known as B3.13, and has been infected with more than 950 flocks in 16 states. Scientists believe about a year ago that they jumped from birds to cattle somewhere on the Texazpan handle. That transition surprised scientists, and even more so for this new one.
“I believed that the movement from birds to COW was a very rare event,” said Richard Webby, an influenza expert in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
The fact that it happened again is “a little 'amazing' for me,” he added.
Nevada cows are infected with the virus version known as D1.1, which is spreading to wild birds and poultry. At first, it was detected with milk collected from Silo as part of the national milk test strategy announced by USDA at the end of last year.
The H5n1 D1.1 format also indicates that it is dangerous for people. Of the 67 Americans, who have been known to have become ill at H5n1, they were only infected with this version. A resident in Louisiana, 65 and over, died in early January, taking care of the sick and dying birds.
In November, a 13-year-old Canadian girl also contracted the D1.1 virus, but it is unclear where she acquired it. Her only risk factor was obesity, but she was also seriously ill and placed on life support due to organ failure. She eventually recovered.
Bird flu is called because it is perfect for infection with birds. However, in both of them, viruses may have a mutation in the process of infection and to be able to infect people.
Scott Hensley, an immunist at the University of Pennsylvania, states:
Enthusibly, the virus did not seem to spread from both people to others. Nevertheless, its evolution indicated that people can gain the ability to expand efficiently among people.
So far, at least, D1.1's spread to cows, “I do not change the life of the average person,” said Dr. Monka. However, experts said that it would take risks to dairy workers and dairy industry. Dr. WebBy said that the possibility that B.3.13 had already been infected once may be sick in D1.1.
“It's not another virus,” he said. “This suggests that it is a prolonged problem for me.”
Since H5N1 was detected in a wild aquatic bird in the United States in January 2022, viruses have influenced more than 153 million commercials, backyards, and wild birds, resulting in record prices for eggs.
He also attacked dozens of mammals, including cats, raccas, bears, and sea lions, which were kept in the wild.
