Health
Symptoms, why wastewater is important, pet safety
The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 that's making headlines in Michigan and across the U.S. is so named because it's highly adapted to infect and kill birds. H5N1 has been circulating in the U.S. since January 2022 and worldwide since 2021.
But what worries scientists and researchers is that the virus has increasingly been infecting other animals, including seals, raccoons, bobcats, foxes, cows and alpacas, and is now spreading to humans — and that little is known about how widespread it actually is.
Testing for H5N1 infection is voluntary: farmers are not required to test their cattle, and people with symptoms are not obliged to get tested.
There are only three Are known There have been two cases of the virus among US farmworkers this year, in Michigan and one in Texas.
All three had mild symptoms and fully recovered, but some scientists worry that the more the virus spreads, the greater the chance it will mutate into a more contagious strain that could make people sicker and spark new strains of influenza reminiscent of the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
One tool that can be used to assess how widespread the virus is in a community is testing wastewater.
Wastewater ScanThat's exactly what the Stanford University-based organization, which monitors infectious diseases through wastewater systems, did earlier this month. Public Posts H5 influenza A virus test results from samples collected through May 21 from 38 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Levels of H5 influenza in Michigan wastewater It was high in all locations tested.Similar situations have occurred in places where cattle herds are not known to be infected, such as the Jackson and Warren wastewater treatment plants.
What does it mean to test wastewater for H5 avian flu?
Wastewater testing for the virus is often the first clue that an infection is spreading in a particular area, but without more accurate and sophisticated tests, samples taken from wastewater treatment plants with large catchment areas don't tell us exactly where the virus came from or whether it's infecting people, cattle, or other organisms (or all of the above).
Viral particles detected in wastewater could have come from runoff from livestock farms with infected cows or other animals, from untreated milk discharged into wastewater systems from production facilities, or even from the wastewater of sick people.
As of Monday, WastewaterSCAN tests had found the virus in wastewater from only six states: California, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Michigan and Texas. Michigan is the only state where high levels of the virus were found at all six testing sites: Ann Arbor, Jackson, Jenison, Mount Pleasant, Traverse City and Warren.
Although there have been no confirmed cases of H5N1 influenza A virus infection in dairy cows in Jackson County, a record 10 positive wastewater samples were identified at the City of Jackson's wastewater treatment plant between May 21 and June 9.
Five cases of H5 influenza were detected in wastewater samples from Warren's wastewater treatment plant between May 21 and June 11, the second-highest total statewide, but there have been no confirmed cases among dairy cows in Macomb County.
more:Scientists trying to solve bird flu mystery: Why is there so much virus in Michigan wastewater?
What are the symptoms of bird flu?
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current strain of the H5N1 virus (subtype 2.3.4.4b) has so far caused mild symptoms such as eye infections, coughing and runny nose in known human cases.
Details of the human cases known to date are as follows:
- a Texas Farm Workers A man contracted H5N1 after coming into contact with sick cows in March. The worker's only symptoms were conjunctivitis or redness of the eyes consistent with pink eye. The worker was treated with anti-influenza medication, asked to isolate to prevent the virus from spreading, and recovered. This is the first known case of cow-to-human transmission in the United States.
- A Michigan farm worker who came into contact with a cow infected with the H5N1 virus Untreated milk gets into your eyeA cow also developed an eye infection in late May but has fully recovered, according to Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical officer, marking the second known case of cow-to-human transmission.
- a Michigan's second farm worker In late May, after working closely with infected cows on another farm, a patient developed upper respiratory symptoms, including a feverless cough and eye discomfort with a watery discharge. She also made a full recovery. This is the third known case of cow-to-human transmission.
- In April 2022, Colorado Farm Workers A man who had culled poultry suspected of being infected with the H5N1 influenza virus reported feeling fatigued for several days. He tested positive for the virus and was quarantined and treated with antiviral drugs. This is a case of bird-to-human transmission.
How does avian flu affect animals?
The current strain of H5N1 is almost always fatal in poultry but causes a variety of mysterious symptoms in other animals.
In cattle, this type of avian influenza appears to invade the mammary system. High concentrations of the virus can be found in the cows' milk, slowing milk production and sometimes causing thick, curdled milk. Cows develop a fever and are unable to eat or drink as much as they should. Pregnant cows may miscarry.
Barn cat drinking raw milk Bird flu was also transmitted from sick cows, causing neurological symptoms, eye and nasal discharges, and many deaths. Fox cubs have also been reported to show neurological symptoms. H5N1 infection causes symptoms such as tremors, blindness, and lethargy, followed by death.
more:Bird flu spreads to cows and milk, raising concerns it may next infect humans
Are my pets safe from bird flu?
It depends on the pet. Of course, birds are at very high risk of catching the virus and can become infected through contact with other infected birds (wild or domestic) and their droppings, mucus and saliva.
Cats are also highly susceptible to H5N1 avian influenza and are at risk of developing neurological symptoms and death, according to a new study. Ferrets can also get very sick You may also die from the virus.
meanwhile Dogs can be infected with H5N1 avian influenzaReports of illness in dogs are rare, and when they do get sick, symptoms are usually mild, the CDC reported earlier this month.
To reduce the risk of infection, veterinarians are urging pet owners to make sure their cats and dogs do not hunt birds or scavenge on bird or other animal carcasses, and to avoid contact with other infected animals, including cows, chickens and unpasteurized milk.
Is it safe to drink milk or eat eggs and beef?
Previous studies conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggest that pasteurized milk and dairy products are safe to eat or drink, as are fully cooked meat and eggs.
One of 109 beef samples tested in late May United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection ServiceH5N1 virus particles were detected in muscle tissue, and cooking ground beef inoculated with high concentrations of the virus to at least 145°C (medium) or 160°C (well done) killed the H5N1 virus.
“Cooking the hamburger at 120 degrees (rare), much lower than the recommended temperature, virtually inactivates the virus,” the USDA reported.
Similar tests are also carried out on commercially available milk. Fragment of H5N1 virus discoveredThese particles were inactivated by pasteurization and were unable to cause infection, but raw milk from infected cows is known to pose an infection risk.
Will an annual flu shot protect me from this virus?
As scientists work to develop a flu vaccine that will be effective against current strains of the H5N1 virus, the CDC said on Friday: Blood sample testing This suggests that Americans have “very low to no herd immunity” to the currently circulating H5N1 strain of the virus, as the seasonal flu vaccine does not appear to generate antibodies against the virus.
This means that “if the virus becomes easily infective and spreads from person to person, a large portion of the population would be at risk for infection,” the CDC said.
Contact Kristen Shamus at [email protected]. Subscribe to the Free Press.
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