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Alarm as bird flu now ‘endemic in cows’ [theguardian.com]

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

A newer variant of H5N1 bird flu has spilled over into dairy cows separately in Nevada and Arizona, prompting new theories about how the virus is spread and leading to questions about containing the ongoing outbreaks.

...

The additional spillovers are changing experts’ view of how rare introductions to herds may be – with implications for how to prevent such spread.

“It’s endemic in cows now. There is no way this is going to get contained” on its own, said Seema Lakdawala, an influenza virologist and co-director of the Center for Transmission of Airborne Pathogens at Emory School of Medicine.

...

Bird flu’s continued spread is happening against the backdrop of the worst flu season in 15 years, since the H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009-10.

The spike in seasonal flu cases puts pressure on health systems, makes it harder to detect rare variants like H5N1, and raises the risk of reassortment, where a person or animal infected with seasonal flu and bird flu could create a new, more dangerous variant.

“There’s a lot of flu going around, and so the potential for the virus to reassort right now is high,” Lakdawala said. There’s also the possibility of reassortment within animals like cows, now that there are multiple variants detected in herds, she pointed out.

At the same time, the CDC’s seasonal flu vaccination campaigns were halted on Thursday as the health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, a longtime anti-vaccine activist, reportedly called for “informed consent” advertisements instead. A meeting for the independent vaccine advisers was also postponed on Thursday.

The US has also halted communication with the World Health Organization on influenza data.

Bird Flu Found in California Rats as USDA Scrambles to Rehire Scientists [newsweek.com]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed H5N1 bird flu in four black rats in Riverside County, California this week. The rats were discovered in late January near two recently affected poultry farms, marking the first detection in rats since 2021.

Black rats, typically found in urban environments, represent a new transmission risk because they can spread the virus through multiple pathways: droppings, urine, blood, and saliva. Their mobility between farms and residential areas could accelerate the virus's spread to both humans and their pets.

Additionally, the USDA said last week that it mistakenly fired officials involved in the federal response to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak. In a statement sent to Newsweek, the agency said it is working "swiftly" to reverse the dismissals.

The outbreak has spread to dairy cattle, with cases confirmed in 973 herds across 17 states. Nearly 70 human cases have been reported, primarily among dairy and poultry workers, with one death recorded in Louisiana.

When infections are confirmed, the USDA enforces strict quarantine measures and mandates culling of affected flocks to prevent further spread, offering financial compensation to farmers. It also promotes biosecurity practices such as limiting farm visitors, disinfecting equipment and controlling bird movement to minimize risks. While the U.S. has historically avoided poultry vaccination due to trade concerns, the agency is now testing new vaccines as the virus continues to spread.

The USDA also collaborates with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to ensure food safety and track mutations that could pose risks to humans. Additionally, it works with international partners to maintain trade stability and prevent supply chain disruptions.

CDC live page on H5 Bird Flu [cdc.gov] - 70 human cases so far
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