Bird flu updates: Lehigh Valley snow geese, California state of emergency, Louisiana variant

Last week provided a stark reminder to the Lehigh Valley that the global avian influenza epidemic is endangering poultry and mammals alike.

The good news is that despite hundreds of snow geese deaths suspected to be caused by avian influenza, “Current public health risk is low” According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Here we take a look at recent developments in the locally initiated H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza situation.

Tests show 200 swan geese have died from avian influenza

Fields and ponds dotted with the white spots of thousands of snow geese, or endless streams of snow geese flying overhead, are exciting and relatively common sights in the Lehigh Valley.

They are also potential vectors of disease.

“Wild waterfowl and shorebirds are believed to be a natural reservoir of avian influenza viruses,” the Pennsylvania Game Commission said Thursday. Preliminary tests indicate that avian influenza is the likely cause of death for about 200 snow geese found in the Lehigh Valley on Monday, the commission announced.

“Infected birds may appear healthy but may shed the virus in their faeces or saliva, but birds of prey (hawks, eagles), scavengers (crows, gulls, crows), and other waterfowl species ( “HPAI can cause illness and death in ducks, geese), and wild poultry (turkeys, grouse),” Commission officials continued. news release.

Preliminary testing in the state has shown the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza in bird carcasses recovered from sites in Lower Nazareth and Upper Macungie townships. This is not the first time this highly pathogenic avian influenza has been detected in the Lehigh Valley. It has been confirmed in wild birds, commercial turkeys, and red foxes.

But the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Saylorsburg has been inundated with calls for snow goose carcasses, and the response has depleted nonprofit members' gas tanks, personal protective equipment and other needed equipment.

“We have also received countless snow geese here at the center from both the public and capture transport staff.” Center posted on Facebook After midnight on Thursday. “All the animals we received had neurological symptoms and were immediately euthanized to avoid further suffering. There is no cure and once neurological symptoms develop, they are not likely to survive.”

Bird flu virus may have mutated in Louisiana patient, CDC says

According to genetic analysis, bird flu The virus mutated in the body of a patient infected in Louisiana. first serious patient sick, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in December:.

Scientists believe this mutation could make it easier for the virus to bind to receptors in the human upper respiratory tract, which is concerning but not cause for alarm, scientists say. are thinking.

Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Minnesota, compared this binding interaction to a lock and key. To enter a cell, a virus needs to have a key to turn the lock, and this finding means the virus may have changed to have a key that could potentially work.

“Does this indicate that we are approaching an outbreak of a virus that is easily transmitted between humans? No,” Osterholm said. “Now this is plugged into the lock, but the door won't open.”

The virus is causing sporadic symptoms, but primarily mild illness in people In the United States, nearly all infected people worked on dairy or poultry farms.

A patient in Louisiana was hospitalized in critical condition with severe respiratory symptoms of bird flu after coming into contact with sick and dead birds in a backyard flock. The person, who has not been identified, is over 65 and has underlying health conditions, authorities said last month.

The CDC emphasized that the Louisiana patient has not been confirmed to have transmitted the virus to anyone else. The agency said that while the findings on the variant strain were “concerning”, the risk to the general public from the outbreak “has not changed and remains low”.

Still, Osterholm said scientists need to keep closely tracking what's happening with mutations.

“There will be more influenza pandemics, and they could be even worse than what we saw with coronavirus,” he said. “We know the pandemic clock is ticking, but we just don’t know what time it is.”

Cats can get avian influenza. Here's how to protect them:

The death of a pet cat in Oregon due to bird flu and a pet food recall are raising questions about how people can protect their pets. The Oregon Health Authority has traced the cause of the cat's illness to frozen cat food containing raw turkey.

Some pet owners feed their animals raw meat, which can be dangerous and even fatal to the animals, said Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Cooking meat and pasteurizing raw milk destroys avian influenza viruses and other pathogens.

“Raw milk and raw meat products can and do transmit this virus,” he said.

Cats appear to be more susceptible to avian influenza viruses than dogs.

Pet owners should keep cats away from wild birds, livestock, and poultry. Don't let them roam freely outdoors, says Mr. Bailey. “Because you don't know what they're doing. Cats are natural hunters, and one of the animals they like to hunt is birds.”

California has declared a state of emergency over bird flu. How serious is the situation?

California officials said: declared a state of emergency The outbreak of bird flu is affecting the state's dairy cows and causing sporadic illnesses in the United States.

This raises new questions about a virus that has been circulating in wild birds for years. commercial poultry and lots of mammalian.

A H5N1 virus detected First U.S. dairy cow in March. Since then, bird flu has been confirmed in at least 915 flocks in 16 states.

More than 60 people have been infected in eight states, most with mild symptoms, including the Louisiana case, the country's first serious illness caused by the virus, health officials said last month. Announced.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said in December that he declared a state of emergency to better deploy state personnel and supplies to respond to the outbreak.

California is investigating an outbreak of bird flu in large milk tanks being processed. The virus has been found in at least 650 herds, representing about three-quarters of all affected dairy herds in the United States.

What are the risks to the public?

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials emphasized that the virus poses a low risk to the general public.

Importantly, there are no reports of human-to-human transmission and no indication that the virus is becoming more spreadable between people.

Influenza experts generally agreed with that assessment, saying it was too early to tell what trajectory the epidemic would take.

“I think the completely satisfactory answer is, I don't think we know yet,” said Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

But virus experts are wary because influenza viruses mutate all the time, and small genetic changes can change the outlook.

How can people protect themselves?

The CDC and other experts say people who have had contact with dairy cows, poultry or backyard birds are at high risk and should take precautions such as respiratory and eye protection and gloves.

“If a bird starts to get sick or die, you have to be very careful about how you handle the bird,” said Osterholm, a public health expert at the University of Minnesota.

CDC I paid for my influenza vaccination. This is to protect farmworkers from seasonal influenza and the risk that workers could be infected with two types of influenza at the same time, potentially causing the avian influenza virus to mutate and become more dangerous. The government also states that farm workers who have had close contact with infected animals should should be tested We provided antiviral medication even if there were no symptoms.

What about raw dairy products?

In addition to direct contact with livestock and wild birds, the H5N1 virus can Can be mixed with raw milk. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, pasteurized milk is safe to drink because heat treatment kills viruses.

However, high levels of the virus have been detected in unpasteurized milk. Raw milk sold in California stores I was reminded of this in the last few weeks After the virus is detected on the farm or in the product.

In Los Angeles, county officials reported that two indoor cats that were fed recalled raw milk died from avian influenza infection. Authorities were investigating additional reports of sick cats.

Health authorities are urging people to avoid consuming raw milk, which can spread many bacteria in addition to bird flu.

The United States Department of Agriculture Strengthening raw milk inspection Supporting the detection and containment of outbreaks across the country. A federal order issued this month requires testing, which began this week in 13 states.

As part of that Recommended protective measuresthe CDC advises people not to eat or drink raw milk or products made with raw milk. Choosing pasteurized milk is the best way to keep you and your family safe.

Pennsylvania supports raw milk Producers can participate in this program thanks to a statewide permitting and testing program administered by the state Department of Agriculture.

Last May, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the New Jersey Department of Health announced the risks associated with consuming raw milk during the current H5N1 avian influenza outbreak, especially in light of the virus being detected in dairy cows in some states. Efforts were made to alert residents to this.