US health experts are voicing concerns as the H5N1 avian flu virus rapidly propagates throughout US dairy farms.
US health experts have raised concerns as the H5N1 avian flu virus rapidly propagates throughout US dairy farms. The outbreak has impacted over 1,000 dairy herds across the country since March 2024. It has resulted in over 70 human infections and at least one verified death.
The virus’s ongoing presence in mammals raises the possibility of shifts that could allow for human-to-human transmission, according to the Global Virus Network (GVN). They stress how urgent it is to implement improved surveillance, standardized testing, and vaccination programs for farmworkers and animals alike.
Sten H Vermund, MD, PhD, dean of the USF Health College of Public Health at the University of South Florida, USA, stated that “Understanding the current landscape of H5N1 infections is critical for effective prevention and response.”
Citing the virus’s capacity to infect both humans and animals, the expert said that proactive surveillance and quick reaction strategies are crucial.
Dr Marc Johnson, who works as virologist at the Missouri University, wrote on X: “This virus might not go pandemic, but it is really trying hard, and it sure is getting a lot of opportunities.”