Scientists are monitoring avian flu and other pathogens in animals more closely than. The most important mutational changes affect the tissue tropism of the virus its ability to infect a specific part of the body. Most cases of human infection have been in Southeast Asia, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks have had a devastating impact on poultry farmers, who are often forced to cull entire flocks in case of infection to stop the disease from spreading. Illness in humans from all bird flu virus infections has ranged in severity from no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death. This can happen when virus is in the air (in droplets or possibly dust) and a person breathes it in, or possibly when a person touches something that has virus on it and then touches their mouth, eyes or nose. 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The first U.S. case of a person infected with avian influenza A (H5N1) virus was reported in April in Colorado. The researchers collected samples from 1,079 wild birds and 132 gray seals and harbor seals stranded along the North Atlantic coast from Jan. 20 to July 31, 2022. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Subscribe to Heres the Deal, our politics Bird flu outbreak spreads across West African migratory route The virus can take commercial poultry farms out of commission for extended periods. Months earlier, the bird flu outbreak drove the cost of turkey meat to record highs. How do we track it in wild birds? Johanna A Harvey, Jennifer M. Mullinax, Michael C. Runge, Diann J. Prosser. That doesnt seem like much of a genetic obstacle. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. Higher prices for eggs and poultry meat in the U.S. are one result. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. These cases do not change the human risk assessment to the general public, which CDC considers to be low. Image:REUTERS/Navesh Chitrakar. Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, 3 things the world is doing to prepare for the next pandemic, The world needs a COP-like process for pandemic preparedness. In January, Insider's George Glover explained the egg crisis facing Americans as prices surged by almost 60% in 2022 due to the influenza outbreak . The disease can and does affect humans, but it's rare. 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Scientists Investigate a Bird Flu Outbreak in Seals After the migrating gull came ashore, the highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as the H5N1 virus, exploded across North America. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Copyright 1998 - 2023 SciTechDaily. Why this bird flu is different: Scientists say new avian influenza The spread of bird flu viruses from one infected person to a close contact has occurred rarely in other countries in the past, and when it has happened, it has been limited and not sustained,and didnotspread beyond close contacts. Avian influenza vaccines can reduce clinical signs, sickness and death rates in domestic poultry, but they would not prevent birds from becoming infected with the virus. Though experts have said the virus rarely infects humans, HPAI has been detected in mammals such as skunks, raccoons, harbor seals, red foxes and bears, according to the USDA. But she notes that U.S. egg prices can be affected if just a few farms have to dispose of their flocks. Photograph: Geoffrey Swaine/Rex/Shutterstock Efforts to halt the spread of this strain of virus have been complicated by its. "Generally, when the weather gets hot, influenza goes away for the most part," Hagerman says. World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Public License, and in accordance with our Terms of Use. Because H5N1 doesnt spread well between people, and because direct infection of humans by infected birds is still relatively rare, H5N1 has not yet erupted into a human epidemic or pandemic. Avian influenza viruses are classified as either "low pathogenic" or "highly pathogenic" based on their genetic features and the severity of the disease they cause in poultry. But lab tests soon revealed something scarier: a deadly avian influenza virus named H5N1. The dynamics of the spread of avian influenza viruses are very complex. Entire flocks, which can top a million birds at egg-laying chicken farms, are also culled to control the spread of the disease after a bird tests positive. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Between December 2022 and February 2023, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in wild aquatic birds (pelicans and penguins) and sea mammals (sea lions) in the Antofagasta Region where the case resides. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. In the U.S. the virus has led to the destruction of millions of commercially raised chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese, and has killed thousands of wild birds.. Read the original article. We call this process the four Ds of outbreak control: diagnosis, depopulation, disposal and decontamination. And if the outbreak lingers into spring, infections could become even more difficult to prevent as a new wave of bird migrations begin. Here's what you need to know about the 2022 outbreak in the U.S.: The losses stretch across the U.S., and they're deepest in the country's middle: More than 1 million birds have been killed in each of 11 states that stretch from Utah to the Midwest and on to Delaware, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The avian flu is hammering U.S. poultry farmers, leaving experts to ask The viruss prevalence in the wild presents new challenges for its containment. Avian influenza viruses change slowly over time, but the right mutation could make them more transmissible in people and other species, says Ian Barr, deputy director of the World Health . No known human-to-human spread has occurred with the A (H5N1) virus that is currently circulating in birds in the United States and globally. If allowed to spread unfettered, the pathogen could evolve in such a way that makes it more devastating or harder to control. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. HPAI is a transboundary disease, which means it is highly contagious and spreads rapidly across national borders. Liu Guanguan/China News Service via Getty Images Now that the virus is here, it shows no sign of going away. "This paper illustrates how unprecedented it is, and describes what we think is coming. Losses of poultry flocks sent prices foreggsand turkey meat to record highs, worsening economic pain for consumers facing red-hot inflation and making Thursdays Thanksgiving celebrations more expensive in the United States. Though most cases were detected in Oregon, positive . Vet Expert Explains Why the Current Avian Flu Outbreak Has People Nathan Howard/Getty Images They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. "You can think of that like an omicron variant" because of its wide prevalence, Webby says. Local weather conditions also influence how the virus spreads. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. ". Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that appear ill or have died and call to report sick or dead birds. This version of the influenza virus doesn't affect "broilers" chickens raised for meat as badly it does "layers" table-egg laying hens and turkeys. Will the Largest Bird Flu Outbreak in History Lead to a Human Pandemic? This is happening as we speak, and this is why Im afraid influenza is going to be with us for a long while.. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk to public health from this outbreak is low. A wave of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian flu has entered Southern California, driven by wild bird migration. "It takes fewer egg-laying operations being affected by HPAI to drive up the price of eggs and egg products," she adds, especially since the majority of U.S. production goes to the domestic market. "For whatever reason, turkeys and layer birds tend to be more susceptible" to the virus, says Amy Hagerman, an assistant professor at Oklahoma State University who specializes in agricultural economics. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) has led to over 23 million bird deaths in 24 states. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider If provided, your email will not be published or shared. H5N1 is a specific type of influenza virus, predominantly harbored by birds, that was first detected on a goose farm in China in 1996. If you need to go back and make any changes, you can always do so by going to our Privacy Policy page. But the calculations might change if the virus is determined to be endemic in wild birds or in a geographic area. Credit: US CDC. Financial support for ScienceDaily comes from advertisements and referral programs, where indicated. Get recent updates on bird flu outbreaks in the U.S. By the end of December, more than 43 million egg-laying hens were lost to the disease itself or to depopulation since the . To detect AI, the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees routine testing of flocks done by farmers and carries out federal inspection programs to ensure that eggs and birds are safe and free of virus. "It's difficult to estimate how many birds are truly affected across wild populations, but we're seeing dramatic disease impacts in raptors, sea birds, and colonial nesting birds. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. Nearly 58 million birds from commercial and backyard flocks have been wiped out in the U.S. since last February, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Subscribe to Here's the Deal, our politics newsletter. For commercial and backyard flocks, many early infections centered along the intersection of the Central and Mississippi flyways of migratory wild birds. "Unlike H5N8, this disease is heavily impacting wild birds," said Johanna Harvey, a postdoctoral researcher at UMD and lead author of the study. The virus of concern in this outbreak is a Eurasian H5N1 HPAI virus that causes high mortality and severe clinical signs in domesticated poultry. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. A highly pathogenic avian influenza has been spreading in the U.S., making headlines as the price of eggs soared at the start of the year and fears of the next zoonotic pandemic creep into popular media. Because the current strain (H5N1) causes heavy losses to poultry, it is referred to as highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI. What you need to know about the avian influenza outbreak The COVID con is over, monkeypox is a non-event, so lets resurrect bird flu as the new threat to mankind and a chance for Big Pharma to create a new raft of bloated billionaires.You must think Jo Public is even dumber than the brains behind these pathetic endless scare stories. November 3, 2022 As bird flu outbreaks in wild birds and poultry continue across the U.S., the country approaches a record number of birds affected compared to previous bird flu outbreaks. An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in chicken and turkey flocks has spread across 24 U.S. states since it was first detected in Indiana on Feb. 8, 2022. And right now, a specific version of the virus known as clade 2.3.4.4b is ruling the roost. People with job-related or recreational exposures to birds or infected mammals should take. Avian flu is ravaging farmers and the markets. Why this bird flu is different: Scientists say new avian influenza requires urgent coordinated response. "We've been dealing with low pathogenic avian influenza for decades in the poultry industry, but this is different." Bird flu is transmitted mainly by wild birds, like these snow geese. The virus transmits very, very rapidly within the flock, so even if birds dont appear sick, they will eventually die very soon, Lorenzoni said. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. "Generally you need two doses of a vaccine and then a length of time to achieve full effectiveness.". The US is currently experiencing its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu, also known as avian influenza and a new study has found that the strain could become endemic in the country. The team also suggests that H5N1 will likely become endemic, potentially posing risks to food security and the economy. The research team recommends a management approach based on a method called Structured Decision-Making, which follows a specific process of identifying and bringing together relevant individuals with an interest, expertise or stake in an issue, distinguishing the unknown from the known factors and establishing measurable goals and actions with quantifiable results. Avian flu is ravaging farmers and the markets. More than 40 million egg-laying hens have been culled in the U.S. alone, making it the worst outbreak on record. A virus is single-minded: It has to replicate, to reproduce, He said. ", A biosecurity sign is seen at the Powers Farm, which raises turkeys in Townsend, Del. The UK has experienced its largest outbreak of avian flu. Turkey farms account for more than 70% of the commercial poultry farms infected in the outbreak, the USDA said. Once viruses are in cells, they may be able to produce copies of themselves, at which point an infection has been achieved. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. HPAI caused high mortality in poultry, but infections were sporadic and contained. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, its staff, its contributors, or its partners. The spread is much more complex than what we normally predict, Kuchipudi said. A certain viral variant that arose in 2020, called H5N1 2.3.4.4b, is driving this outbreak. Many factors would have to be weighed before adopting vaccination as a strategy for controlling HPAI. Avian influenza - Wikipedia The virus has hit many turkey farms but because those operations tend to be smaller and the cases have been spread out over time and space, producers have mostly been able to absorb the losses, building up stocks of frozen turkey ahead of the end-of-year holidays. The World Health Organization is closely monitoring and analyzing the spread of H5N1 in mammals. A truck drives out the entrance of the Cold Springs Eggs Farm where the presence of avian influenza was reported to be discovered, forcing the commercial egg producer to destroy nearly 3 million chickens on March 24, 2022 near Palmyra, Wisconsin. However, CDC is watching this situation closely and taking routine preparedness and prevention measures in case this virus changes to pose a greater human health risk. University of Maryland. Bird influenza viruses, such as H5N1, use a version called a2,3-linked sialic acid, while human flu viruses use a2,6-linked sialic acid the predominant variant in the human upper respiratory tract. U.S. experts had been bracing for an outbreak, watching successful strains of the H5N1 influenza virus proliferate in Europe and elsewhere. Another central issue is the difficulty of surveillance of knowing whether a bird is infected with a deadly influenza virus but isn't showing symptoms because they've been vaccinated. > Subscribe Free to Email Digest, New research suggests that lonely individuals process the world differently than their peers, regardless of their social network size, potentially contributing to their feelings of. It has ravaged farm flocks and chicken yards in 46 states since February, when the first cases were reported in commercial flocks. "So, yes, we certainly saw an increase in turkey prices in this holiday season," Hagerman says, "but not as much as we might have anticipated given the extent of this outbreak.". Rescued chickens gather last year in an aviary at Farm Sanctuarys Southern California Sanctuary in Acton, Calif. An outbreak of avian influenza in seabirds in the Gambia could affect vast numbers of birds migrating along the East Atlantic Flyway, unless international funding is secured, warn conservationists. And since its arrival in North America, the avian influenza virus has continued to change. ", Liu Guanguan/China News Service via Getty Images, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Zoos across North America are moving birds indoors to protect them from avian flu, Bird flu outbreak drives Nebraska to cull 1.8 million more chickens, Bald eagles around the U.S. are contracting the bird flu. Experts are concerned that a new global disease outbreak, possibly worse than Covid-19, might begin any day. Egg prices have risen this year, as aggressive measures against avian influenza disrupted the U.S. industry. Importers would not be able to distinguish vaccinated birds from infected birds based on the routine testing, so they might ban all U.S. poultry exports. Ask the Expert: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses. This is a concern because studies have shown that only one or two mutations in the viral genome are enough to switch receptor binding from a2,3-linked sialic acid to the human a2,6-linked sialic acid. The bird flu surge has also . Avian flu outbreak in the Gambia threatens birds on East Atlantic Still, the scale of the spread is putting strain on animal health laboratories. . Questions? And we now have the highest amount of poultry loss to avian influenza, so this is a worst-case scenario," she added. Thus, to become efficient at infecting humans, H5N1 would likely need to mutate to use a2,6-linked sialic acid as its receptor. All Rights Reserved. Scientists who monitor wild bird flocks have also detected a reassortant virus that contains genes from both the Eurasian H5 and low pathogenic North American viruses. What is the World Economic Forum doing about fighting pandemics? The worst bird-flu outbreak in US history is 'wiping out everything in Better known as bird . Comparing information about these newer viruses to previously circulating H5N1 bird flu viruses helps inform the human health risk assessment. More than 77 million poultry, most raised in crowded. One fear, says Thijs Kuiken, an avian influenza expert at Erasmus University Rotterdam, is that H5N1 will spread south of the U.S. border. USDA ERS - Chart Detail Do we test the water or the soil? Saving Lives, Protecting People, Current U.S. Bird Flu Situation in Humans. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. The U.S. outbreak, which began in February, infected flocks of poultry and non-poultry birds across 46 states, USDA data show. And we now have the highest amount of poultry loss to avian influenza, so this is a worst-case scenario.". However, since then, infections in both humans and birds have been observed. In the U.S. the virus has led to the destruction of millions of commercially raised chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese, and has killed thousands of wild birds. Avian influenza (AI) is caused by an influenza type A virus which can infect poultry (such as chickens, turkeys, pheasants, quail, domestic ducks, geese, and guinea fowl) and wild birds (especially waterfowl).
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