Concerns over the spread of bird flu are prompting the United States government to make changes. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday, Nov. 7, that all farm workers exposed to animals with bird flu should be tested for the virus even if they have not experienced symptoms.
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The CDC’s new recommendation comes as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is also expanding testing of milk for bird flu.
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The department announced last week that it would begin testing bulk milk for bird flu. This comes after mounting pressure from industry and veterinary groups.
Meanwhile, workers are reportedly avoiding testing over economic concerns or because their symptoms are mild. Infectious disease experts note that as the virus spreads, the risk of it moving to human-to-human increases, which could spark a pandemic.
The CDC has reported 46 human cases of bird flu since April. However, scientists believe the numbers are higher due to underreporting.
Recent tests among 115 dairy workers in Michigan and Colorado who were exposed to infected cows found evidence of a prior infection in eight workers. Of those eight workers who showed antibodies to H5N1, only half said they recalled experiencing symptoms from the virus.
These findings show the federal response to the outbreak has been lackluster, according to researchers. They added the studies should’ve been done months ago and should’ve been prioritized.
The CDC’s expanded testing comes after two pigs on an Oregon farm tested positive for the virus a week apart. Virologists say the findings are concerning because pig infections have been a source of prior human pandemics.
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H5N1 has now reportedly been confirmed in at least 46 cattle herds in 15 states across the U.S.
Tags: Bird Flu, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Health, Health Care, Pandemic, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA
[KARAH RUCKER]
CONCERNS OVER THE SPREAD OF BIRD ARE PROMPTING THE U-S GOVERNMENT TO MAKE CHANGES.
THE C-D-C ANNOUNCING THURSDAY ALL FARM WORKERS EXPOSED TO ANIMALS WITH BIRD FLU SHOULD BE TESTED FOR THE VIRUS EVEN IF THEY HAVE NO SYMPTOMS.
THE AGENCY’S NEW RECOMMENDATION COMES AS THE U-S-D-A IS ALSO EXPANDING TESTING OF MILK FOR BIRD FLU.
THE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCING LAST WEEK, IT WILL BEGIN TESTING BULK MILK FOR BIRD FLU AFTER MOUNTING PRESSURE FROM INDUSTRY AND VETERINARY GROUPS.
THE C-D-C HAS REPORTED 46 HUMAN CASES SINCE APRIL, THOUGH SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THE NUMBERS MAY BE HIGHER DUE TO UNDERREPORTING.
RECENT TESTS AMONG 115 DAIRY WORKERS IN MICHIGAN AND COLORADO WHO WERE EXPOSED TO INFECTED COWS FOUND EVIDENCE OF A PRIOR INFECTION IN EIGHT WORKERS.
OF THE EIGHT, ONLY HALF RECALLED HAVING SYMPTOMS OF THE VIRUS.
RESEARCHERS SAY THE FEDERAL RESPONSE TO THE OUTBREAK HAS BEEN “LACKLUSTER.”
ADDING, “THESE STUDIES SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED MONTHS AGO AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN PRIORITIZED.”
H5N1 HAS NOW BEEN CONFIRMED IN AT LEAST 446 CATTLE HERDS IN 15 STATES.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY– DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.
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