H5N1 Bird Flu in 42 Herds Across 9 States; $100M for Surveillance, 70 Workers Monitored

May 11, 2024, 04:45 PM

The spread of the H5N1 bird flu virus in the United States has escalated, with confirmed cases now reported in 42 dairy herds across nine states. The virus, which was first detected in U.S. poultry farms in 2022, has now been found in cattle and has also infected two humans, marking the first cases of bird flu in humans in the country. Concerns are growing over the potential for the virus to mutate and spread more easily among humans, as it has already shown the ability to jump from birds to mammals. Health officials are implementing measures to monitor and contain the outbreak, including the distribution of personal protective equipment to farm workers and increased surveillance and testing of cattle. Despite these efforts, there is a noticeable lack of compliance from farmers in adopting protective measures. The federal government is investing $100 million to enhance surveillance efforts, and incentives are being offered to encourage cooperation from the farming community. Additionally, 70 dairy farm workers are being monitored for symptoms, and there is evidence of asymptomatic spread in cattle, with virus genomes also found in grocery milk.