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New H5N1 Bird Flu Kills Man in Mexico, Infects Dairy Herds in Ten US States

Jun 10, 2024, 06:36 AM

A new strain of H5N1 bird flu has resulted in the death of a man in Mexico. Officials have stated that the outbreak risk remains low as there is no evidence of onward transmission. The victim initially tried to treat his symptoms at home before seeking hospital care a week later, where he died from complications. Scientists and government officials hope research will guide efforts to contain the bird flu virus and reduce exposure to humans. Respiratory spread could give the virus more opportunity to evolve, increasing the risk to humans. The US Department of Agriculture reports that bird flu has infected at least 80 dairy herds across ten states, raising concerns about rising cow mortalities and the risk of farmers culling cows to stop the spread. Milk futures have been rising as a result. A recent paper co-authored by the NIH and CDC supports the notion that the respiratory tract of cattle could be involved in cow-to-cow transmission. A report from an H5N1 outbreak on a farm in Texas notes that farm workers were sick with flu-like symptoms at the same time as cows.