The CDC reports new cases of avian influenza in humans. Should I worry?

• Many people wonder if another pandemic is looming in the growing outbreak of avian flu.
• Millions of birds in poultry farms and some cattle herds have been affected, but the overall risk to humans remains low.
• Still, new CDC reports have documented many human cases to show that the virus may be spreading quietly to humans who do not show symptoms.
• Recent studies have shown that avian influenza viruses are just a few mutations away from sending them more easily to humans, and can increase risk.

If you haven't yet become ill this winter, you probably know who has it.

Meanwhile, the growing outbreak of avian flu has led to growing concerns. recently Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Three new human cases of H5N1 avian influenza virus are shown from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

All three were veterinarians working with multiple animals, including dairy cows. However, although they worked with H5N1-positive poultry, no one knew or collaborated with cows who were suspected of avian flu. None of the human cases showed symptoms, suggesting that the virus may have been secretly spreading to humans.

However, the CDC has repeatedly shown that the overall risk to humans remains low.

Because of the context, bird flu is more impacted than that 160 million birds Only in 51 states 70 Human cases of bird flu It has been reported. All but five of these cases were detected after exposure to cattle and poultry. One bird has had a flu-related death.

Like respiratory viruses, avian influenza is constantly mutated. This is evident in recent numbers Pet cat others Wild animals It signed the virus. Compared to humans, some animals have a much higher risk of death.

Still, according to the recent the studyavian flu can be just a few mutations, since it transmits more easily (and more) to humans (and) more easily.

Earlier this month, the CDC was wrong It was deleted after posting Data on the infection of avian influenza between cats and humans. As USDA scrambles to rehire Layoff workers lately In relation to the country's avian flu reaction, many Americans may wonder if another pandemic is on the horizon.

However, unlike the Covid-19 pandemic, the US is far more prepared for pandemic-level responses. a Avian flu vaccine for poultry It has already been conditionally approved.

To learn more about the risk of avian flu, Healthline William SchaffnerProfessors of preventive medicine and infectious diseases in health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Maryland can learn how much they should be concerned about the virus and what they can do to minimize risks. Masu.

Shaffner: There may be a quiet spread. Public health investigators spoke with these veterinarians about trying to find potential contact with animals known to be infected, but the veterinarians are in contact with all animals. Maybe it was. fashion.

This does not necessarily mean the spread of people, people, or from undefined animal sources. I think that's a veterinarian or a farm worker who has contracted the virus from unknown sources, and I think it's highly likely that these veterinarians will get infected. Maybe it's poultry, maybe it's livestock or cattle.

Shaffner: Yes, certainly – very, very low. There is no evidence yet that it is easy to spread people. In fact, I don't think there is any evidence that any of the US documented cases spread the infection to another close contact. Therefore, the virus has not yet acquired the genetic ability that can easily spread from person to person.

If it develops that capacity, we may be at another pandemic threshold. These pandemics Influenza virus It occurs every 10 to 20 years in the population, but this avian influenza virus has not yet occurred. This in its previous form changes over time, circulating in wild bird populations and poultry for about 20 minutes. year.

However, I have not reduced the fact that it has entered certain zoos of mammal species, most notably dairy cows, as well as mink cats, domestic cats, and even other mammal species. So there is clearly concern.

In the public health and infectious disease communities, flu-like diseases are sampled and molecular fingerprinted for these viruses. It's like our radar system and picks up the earliest signs that could indicate that this virus may have changed to make it more dangerous than the population.

Shaffner: I'm worried that I won't be able to reassure you a lot. There are two ways in which this avian influenza virus can acquire mutations that allow it to be easily transmitted from human to human.

First, these viruses constantly increase millions of times to wild birds, poultry, dairy cows and possibly other mammalian species. Therefore, they are constantly multiplying, and by chance, such mutations can occur.

This is less likely than other ways these pandemic influenza viruses are transitioning from birds to humans. Some animals can be infected with both the avian influenza virus and human influenza. They can do it biologically. The animal is notoriously a pig.

In 2009, there was swine flu because the virus came through bird pigs. Individual pigs can contract avian influenza virus, but at the same time they will contract human influenza virus. These two viruses grow simultaneously in pigs. They can trade genes. The avian influenza virus could pick up the ability to easily infect humans, known as re-cooperation, from human viruses. In other words, the genes are resolved again and exchanged genetic elements.

This is a more common way these new pandemic viruses appear in the global scene, and we cannot tell you when this will occur or when it will occur. It could happen next Tuesday. It could happen ten years from now. This avian influenza virus hasn't done that yet, so all we can do is do our surveillance. We have the scientific ability to set up this diagnostic radar system to constantly look at these influenza viruses around the world and now we can see those genes. We couldn't do it right away 15 or 10 years ago.

Shaffner: Domestic cats can contract avian flu, causing serious illness. It is well established. The case of barn cats around dairy cows was immediately determined. They consumed contaminated milk and became sick.

I don't think you're seeing cats infected in bird feeders or bird baths in your backyard, but is that possible? yes.

Depending on your level of concern, you will say you will use disposable gloves when handling your bird feeder and your bird bath. When you come to the house, throw away those gloves Wash your hands thoroughly. If you have a home cat and you are worried, what you can do is simple things you can do.

Shaffner: There is already a blueprint or template for creating avian flu vaccine. It was made a few years ago and the US stockpiled a certain amount of vaccine as a starter in case we had to use it.

The virus has changed a little over time, so we are currently updating that vaccine. And if that's needed, there's at least the starter amount of the national stockpile used in high-risk groups.

We are working on both human and animal vaccines. Avian flu is not an immediate threat to humans, so there are no current plans to implement it. Looking ahead, it will likely be the first to target people who work with poultry and those who work with dairy cows. That's just the beginning before rolling out a more comprehensive vaccination program.

Like everyone, if you think the pandemic is on the rise Influenza vaccinethey are great for preventing serious illnesses. They cannot prevent all infections. While it cannot prevent epidemics or pandemics, it can minimize their serious effects and reduce hospitalizations and deaths.

The CDC likes to talk about the flu vaccine, so it turns into the wild to emphasize that it can prevent all diseases, but reduces the severity of the disease.

Shaffner: You can't predict the future. We spent 20 years without it, and this bird flu has been around for 20 years in its various variations and hasn't happened yet. I think there will be another flu pandemic someday. Will it be avian flu or another avian flu? Another bird flu or pig flu? I can't say it. When will it happen? No one knows.

It needs to be prepared on the public health side, which requires resources. You need to maintain your guard and have the ability to respond. When you think about infections, you may track them when they contain the flu.

We've been worried about bird flu as a potential problem, but we're also in the midst of a very large seasonal flu outbreak and acceptance of seasonal flu vaccines is far more than we want. That's not so much.

In preparation for the next fall, the next flu outbreak, my message to the public should be made to resolve to get vaccinated and vaccinate all family members. It will blunt the impact of the next flu outbreak as there will be another flu outbreak next winter. I don't know if it's mild, moderate or severe, but we have it.

With the growing outbreak of bird flu, many people are wondering how worried we should be. Millions of birds from poultry farms in the US and cattle herds in some states have been affected, but the overall risk to humans remains low.

Still, the avian influenza virus could be just a few mutations that are more easily (and possibly in between) spreading into humans, which could increase risk.

Avian flu vaccines for poultry are already underway, and experts say the latest human vaccines will be available if the outbreak reaches pandemic-level concerns.