Experts say current US outbreak is unlikely to end without intervention with further mutation of virus likely

Summary

A new H5N1 bird flu variant has become “endemic in cows,” with cases detected in Nevada and Arizona, raising concerns about human transmission.

Experts warn that without intervention, the outbreak will continue, but Trump has cut CDC staff and halted flu vaccination campaigns.

The virus’s spread coincides with a severe flu season, increasing the risk of mutation.

The administration has also stopped sharing flu data with the WHO and shifted its containment strategy away from culling infected poultry, raising fears of inadequate response.

    • robbinhood@lemmy.world
      20·
      12 hours ago

      Meanwhile, in Michigan, there’s a case of two exclusively indoor cats catching it. One prominent theory is that the humans in the household passed it to them.

      • theangryseal@lemmy.world
        2·
        3 hours ago

        Think about how many cats aren’t being reported.

        Like, if my cat drops dead I’m just burying her. No one would ever know.

        If the 5 strays that hang outside my apartment died of it I’d just bury them too. No one would have a clue.

        • robbinhood@lemmy.world
          2·
          3 hours ago

          Great point, and H5N1 can kill cats within like 24 hours (not sure if that’s exposure or first symptoms). So, you’re not paying close attention to your cat for even just a matter of hours, it dies, you don’t know why, and just bury it.