H5N1 Bird Flu in U.S. Cattle, Single Human Case Raises Global Concerns

May 9, 2024, 07:15 PM

The H5N1 avian influenza virus, which has recently been detected in cattle, is raising global health concerns due to its potential to become endemic and facilitate human spillover. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are closely monitoring the situation, with WHO's chief scientist emphasizing the importance of understanding societal conditions in disease response. In the U.S., the virus has infected multiple mammal species, and there is a single confirmed human case. At least 220 people are being monitored and 30 have been tested. Health experts are calling for increased surveillance and testing, especially in farming communities, to prevent a broader outbreak.