Official statements from international health organizations or governments

H5N1 Bird Flu Spreads to U.S. Dairy Cows, Third Human Case Reported, CDC Enhances Surveillance

May 28, 2024, 01:52 PM

The avian influenza virus, type A H5N1, has spread to dairy cows in the United States, raising concerns about potential human infections. Health experts have confirmed that milk and other dairy products remain safe to consume, with some exceptions. The virus has already infected more than two people, marking the third human case of H5N1 in the U.S. this week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is enhancing its surveillance efforts, and the U.S. and Europe are taking steps to acquire or manufacture vaccines to protect at-risk workers, including poultry and dairy workers, veterinarians, and lab technicians. Additionally, the virus has been detected in alpacas in Idaho and feral cats in New Mexico. An early indication of the outbreak in Texas came from devices hitched to collars on dairy cows, described as an 'advanced fitness tracker.' The mutation PB2-M631L, found in cattle and birds, has now been detected in a human, increasing the virus's capability to replicate in human cells.