avian flu outbreak

Experts say the virus, known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or HPAI, has been difficult to contain because it appears to be more prevalent in wild birds now than during previous outbreaks a development that also makes future infections more likely. USDA ERS - Chart Detail What are the triggers for different actions, and how do we measure if we're succeeding? What a Bird Flu Outbreak Among Mink Could Mean for Humans "However, ducks can be infected without any signs of illness. AI viruses are classified by a combination of two groups of proteins: hemagglutinin or "H" proteins, of which there . As a result of recurrent outbreaks, U.S. egg inventories were 29 percent lower in the final week of December 2022 than at the beginning of the year. He can be reached at Evan.Bush@nbcuni.com. A man was also diagnosed with the virus in Chile, according to the World Health Organization. Better known as the bird flu, avian influenza is a group of flu viruses that is well adapted to birds. The dynamics of the spread of avian influenza viruses are very complex. The disease can and does affect humans, but it's rare. People with job-related or recreational exposures to birds or infected mammals should take. It's possible that wild bird populations will build up an immunity to the virus but Webby warns that it will take months to understand whether that is happening at a meaningful level. In addition, we have better diagnostic tests for much more rapid and improved detection of avian influenza compared to 20 to 30 years ago, using molecular diagnostics such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests the same method labs use to detect COVID-19 infections. The most important mutational changes affect the tissue tropism of the virus its ability to infect a specific part of the body. "People in Central America and South America really need to be aware," he says, "that this virus is likely to arrive on their doorstepif it hasn't . Because H5N1 doesnt spread well between people, and because direct infection of humans by infected birds is still relatively rare, H5N1 has not yet erupted into a human epidemic or pandemic. Avian Influenza | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service - FWS.gov Bird flu outbreak spreads across West African migratory route Globally since 2003, countries have reported rare, sporadic human infections with H5N1 bird flu viruses to the World Health Organization (WHO). ", "These are actually discussions that are going on now," Webby says, describing ideas such as what kind of post-vaccination surveillance would be needed to "make sure your trading partners are happy that the virus is not circulating silently.". By contrast, humans experience influenza as a respiratory infection and spread it by breathing and coughing. At this time, the Department of Agriculture has not approved the use of vaccination in the U.S. for protecting birds from avian influenza. In January, the dangerous H5N1 flu virus was found in an American wigeon duck in South Carolina the first U.S. case since 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Low pathogenic disease is less contagious and easier to contain than the highly pathogenic variety. Avian flu outbreak in U.S. worst on record, over 50 million birds dead Sea lions in Peru are also succumbing to H5N1 virus in massive numbers. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. Well, whod have thought it? 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A highly pathogenic avian influenza virus "can cause disease that affects multiple internal organs with mortality up to 90% to 100%in chickens, often within 48 hours," the CDC notes. Although declaring a disease endemic is a complicated process, the authors of the study suggest that the U.S. will likely follow patterns seen in Europe where highly pathogenic avian influenza is already being treated as an endemic disease rather than something that can be eradicated. Losses of poultry flocks sent prices foreggsand turkey meat to record highs, worsening economic pain for consumers facing red-hot inflation and making Thursdays Thanksgiving celebrations more expensive in the United States. The UK has experienced its largest outbreak of avian flu. Thus, to become efficient at infecting humans, H5N1 would likely need to mutate to use a2,6-linked sialic acid as its receptor. Please check your inbox to confirm. Better known as bird . The current most problematic strain, H5N1, was first detected in southern China and Hong Kong back in 1996. After several weeks without new virus detections, the area is required to test negative in order to be deemed free of infection. Sign up for notifications from Insider! April 14, 2023. His lab is largely operating seven days a week. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. Image:REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar. More than 60% of U.S. broiler . With all those replications, it can accumulate a lot of different changes. This is happening as we speak, and this is why Im afraid influenza is going to be with us for a long while.. The spread is much more complex than what we normally predict, Kuchipudi said. The virus is highly pathogenic to birds, meaning that infections often cause extreme symptoms, including death. ScienceDaily. And since its arrival in North America, the avian influenza virus has continued to change. And we now have the highest amount of poultry loss to avian influenza, so this is a worst-case scenario.". https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-consumers-need-to-know-about-the-avian-flu-outbreak, As avian flu spreads, North American zoos take precautions to protect birds, Americans may soon pay more for milk, cheese as rising heat stresses livestock, For Midwest farmers, floodwaters threaten millions in crop and livestock losses, outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, depression, coughing and sneezing and sudden death, the risk to public health from this outbreak is low, last H5N1 outbreak in the U.S. in 2014 and 2015, travel thousands of miles between continents, eradicate HPAI quickly after it is detected. University of Maryland. Northern pintail ducks are among the types of birds that H5N1 bird flu virus infections have been identified in the United States in 2022. That includes millions of chickens and turkeys in barns and backyards that had been raised to provide eggs or meat. Efforts to prevent infections in commercial and backyard flocks are ongoing, but slowing the outbreak has been challenging because the virus seems to have gained a foothold in species of wild birds, said Biao He, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine. However, vaccines could be used to help control an outbreak, and this is an option that the agency is investigating now. Seasonal flu vaccination will not prevent infection with bird flu viruses, but can reduce the risk of getting sick with human and bird flu viruses at the same time. Monitoring and prevention of avian influenza has improved since the last major outbreak in 2015, Lorenzoni said, when roughly 50 million birds were killed over six months. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Bird flu is transmitted mainly by wild birds, like these snow geese. The presence of the virus in the commercial food chain raises a number of possible trade headaches but so would using a vaccine to fight it. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses can severely affect domestic animal, wildlife, and sometimes human health.. Outbreaks of Eurasian lineage highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses have been impacting domestic poultry and wild bird populations in Europe and Asia since August 2020. Have any problems using the site? Here, eggs sit on a supermarket shelf in San Mateo County, Calif. Months earlier, the bird flu outbreak drove the cost of turkey meat to record highs. 2022-2023 Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza You can review and change the way we collect information below. Rescued chickens gather in an aviary at Farm Sanctuary's Southern California Sanctuary on Oct. 5 in Acton, Calif. A wave of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu has entered Southern California, driven by wild bird migration. The team also suggests that H5N1 will likely become endemic, potentially posing risks to food security and the economy. If allowed to spread unfettered, the pathogen could evolve in such a way that makes it more devastating or harder to control. A highly pathogenic avian influenza has been spreading in the U.S., making headlines as the price of eggs soared at the start of the year and fears of the next zoonotic pandemic creep into popular media. And we now have the highest amount of poultry loss to avian influenza, so this is a worst-case scenario," she added. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, drove the cost of turkey meat to record highs. But lab tests soon revealed something scarier: a deadly avian influenza virus named H5N1. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Comparing information about these newer viruses to previously circulating H5N1 bird flu viruses helps inform the human health risk assessment. Unlike the 2014-15 outbreak, this one is being driven by wild birds, not by farm-to-farm transmission. An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in chicken and turkey flocks has spread across 24 U.S. states since it was first detected in Indiana on Feb. 8, 2022. Local weather conditions also influence how the virus spreads. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. But when domesticated poultry, such as chickens and turkeys, come in direct or indirect contact with feces of infected wild birds, they become infected and start to show symptoms, such as depression, coughing and sneezing and sudden death. Avian influenza, also known as avian flu, is a bird flu caused by the influenza A virus, which can infect people. As it is now, this is the largest animal emergency that the USDA has faced in this country, said GinoLorenzoni, an assistant professor of poultry science and avian health at Pennsylvania State University. That doesnt seem like much of a genetic obstacle. The CDC states that like any poultry or eggs, heating food to an internal temperature of 165F kills any bacteria and viruses present, including HPAI viruses. This means that the virus is well adapted to them, and these birds do not typically get sick when they are infected with it. Most people who have contracted H5N1 have gotten it directly from interacting with infected poultry specifically chickens, turkeys, ducks and geese, which often are raised in close quarters on large commercial farms. It hasnt been confirmed definitively whether the sea lions are spreading the virus to each other or are contracting it from birds or H5N1-infected water. The avian flu is hammering U.S. poultry farmers, leaving experts to ask University of Colorado Boulder virologists Sara Sawyer, Emma Worden-Sapper and Sharon Wu summarize the compelling story of H5N1 and why scientists are closely watching the outbreak. Sporadic human cases of H5N1 reported with H5N1 viruses circulating in birds since 2021 have occurred following exposure to infected poultry. "It's difficult to estimate how many birds are truly affected across wild populations, but we're seeing dramatic disease impacts in raptors, sea birds and colonial nesting birds. "Why this bird flu is different: Scientists say new avian influenza requires urgent coordinated response." This happens when multiple strains of the virus circulating in the bird population exchange genes to create a new strain of the virus, much as new strains of COVID-19 like omicron and delta have emerged during the ongoing pandemic. University of Maryland. This graphic shows how bird flu viruses can spread between infected birds and people. Outbreaks have become more common due to the high density and frequent movement of flocks from intensive poultry production. Additional Information Return to top Many factors would have to be weighed before adopting vaccination as a strategy for controlling HPAI. Europe and Britain are also suffering their worst avian-flu crises, and some British supermarketsrationed customers eggpurchases after the outbreak disrupted supplies. HPAI is a transboundary disease, which means it is highly contagious and spreads rapidly across national borders. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Current U.S. Bird Flu Situation in Humans. It is true that the farmed minks were confined in close quarters, like chickens on a poultry farm, so that may have contributed. These decisions have to be made on multiple scales.". In Iowa, two massive egg-laying operations had to cull more than 5 million birds in single incidents earlier this year. What we know about the deadliest U.S. bird flu outbreak in history - NPR What consumers need to know about the avian flu outbreak Scientists continue to monitor the ongoing global avian influenza outbreak also referred to as bird flu that has killed millions of birds and has now crossed over to some species of mammals. Better known as bird flu, avian influenza is a family of highly contagious viruses that are not harmful to wild birds that transmit it, but are deadly to domesticated birds. Denise Chow is a reporter for NBC News Science focused on general science and climate change. A sample of avian influenza isolated from a Chilean man who fell ill last month contains two genetic mutations that are signs of adaptation to mammals, officials from the Centers . And right now, a specific version of the virus known as clade 2.3.4.4b is ruling the roost. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk to public health from this outbreak is low. H5N1 spread very efficiently between the minks and caused clinical signs of illness and death in the mink populations where it was detected. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) has led to over 23 million bird deaths in 24 states. People should avoid unprotected contact birds that look sick or have died, though the outbreak poses a low risk to the general public, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. These cases do not change the human risk assessment to the general public, which CDC considers to be low. Total case counts for all human infections with H5N1 viruses reported since 1997 are. Over the centuries, some of these avian influenza viruses have been passed from birds to humans and other mammalian species, although this is a relatively rare event. Suresh Kuchipudi, the interim director of the Animal Diagnostic Laboratory at Pennsylvania State University, said three animal testing laboratories in Pennsylvania are processing several thousand samples each week. "One of the big complications is timing on a vaccine," Hagerman says. U.S. experts had been bracing for an outbreak, watching successful strains of the H5N1 influenza virus proliferate in Europe and elsewhere. As those birds traveled, so did the virus. It's really a call to arms saying, we can't afford to address this from our individual silos. Yuko Sato, an associate professor of veterinary medicine who works with poultry producers, explains why so many birds are getting sick and whether the outbreak threatens human health. The virus has hit many turkey farms but because those operations tend to be smaller and the cases have been spread out over time and space, producers have mostly been able to absorb the losses, building up stocks of frozen turkey ahead of the end-of-year holidays. It is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. Klebher Vasquez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, NOW WATCH: Why raccoons are so hard to get rid of, according to the World Health Organization, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Insider's George Glover explained the egg crisis facing Americans as prices surged by almost 60% in 2022 due to the influenza outbreak. The US is no stranger to the impact of the disease, with the H5N8 strain having led to the culling of 50 million birds in 2015. ". Most cases of human infection have been in Southeast Asia, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC twenty four seven. H5N1 is a specific type of influenza virus, predominantly harbored by birds, that was first detected on a goose farm in China in 1996. If provided, your email will not be published or shared. With avian influenza viruses, it is not possible to make effective human vaccines in advance, because we dont know exactly what the genetics of the virus will be if it starts to spread well in humans. Reports are seasonal, with a peak in February and a low point in September. Learn more about the latest avian influenza situation in the United States and globally. The virus that worries them is H5N1, a form of avian influenza, or bird flu. As H5N1 infects more species, it also increases its geographical range and produces more viral variants that could have new biological properties. The US is currently experiencing its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu, also known as avian influenza and a new study has found that the strain could become endemic in the country. The researchers hope their work will bring key players to the table to consider the next steps. Read the original article. The data also reveals a shift from a seasonal to a year-round disease. Bird Flu Outbreak in the US: What to Know - Healthline Scientists who monitor wild bird flocks have also detected a reassortant virus that contains genes from both the Eurasian H5 and low pathogenic North American viruses. hide caption. Learn what to do if you have contact with infected birds and become sick. For more information about prevention, especially for people who keep domesticated birds or are bird-watching hobbyists, the Centers for Disease Control has a list of guidelines for avoiding H5N1 and other bird flu viruses. Most viruses are of low pathogenicity, meaning that they causes no signs or only minor clinical signs of infection in poultry. "It takes fewer egg-laying operations being affected by HPAI to drive up the price of eggs and egg products," she adds, especially since the majority of U.S. production goes to the domestic market. The COVID con is over, monkeypox is a non-event, so lets resurrect bird flu as the new threat to mankind and a chance for Big Pharma to create a new raft of bloated billionaires.You must think Jo Public is even dumber than the brains behind these pathetic endless scare stories. There are only a small handful of examples of human-to-human spread. But the disease was eradicated in North America that same year, largely because it did not seriously impact wild birds, which made containment through culling poultry relatively easy. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, its staff, its contributors, or its partners. This is a concern because studies have shown that only one or two mutations in the viral genome are enough to switch receptor binding from a2,3-linked sialic acid to the human a2,6-linked sialic acid. More reports poured in over the following weeks and months, raising alarms as the virus spread to more states. Bird flu US egg factory roasts alive 5.3m chickens in avian flu cull - then fires almost every worker Laborers worked for a month disposing of birds killed in a gruesomely inhumane manner.. This webpage summarizes the current avian influenza (bird flu) situation in humans in the United States. With the recent detections of the Eurasian H5 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds and domestic poultry in the United States, bird owners should review their biosecurity practices and stay vigilant to protect poultry and pet birds from this disease. The first case of H5N1 infection in a human in the US was reported in April 2022. Introduction of the Eurasian lineage HPAI to North .