US news
Ca-Maine Foods, largest fresh egg producer in US, temporarily halts production at one Texas facility after discovering virus
Fri 12 Apr 2024 07.00 EDT
Avian influenza has been detected among chickens in Texas and Michigan, following news of the virus infecting livestock and then a person for the first time in the US and potentially leading to supply chain issues.
The developments have led to a heightened focus on the potential risks of the virus, especially in the wake of the devastating coronavirus pandemic. But experts are saying that there is little chance of transmission between humans at this point.
Cal-Maine Foods, the largest producer of fresh eggs in the US, has temporarily halted production at one Texas facility and is killing 1.6 million hens and 337,000 chicks 3.6% of its entire flock after discovering the highly pathogenic virus among its domesticated birds.
These are hard times for dairies and the poultry folks, said Lewis R Bud Dinges, Texas state veterinarian and executive director of the Texas animal health commission.
Outbreaks like these may have repercussions on the price of poultry and eggs, particularly if the virus keeps spreading in domesticated flocks much like the 2022-23 outbreak that raised the price of eggs by 70%. Continued spread among chickens could also threaten the production of the flu vaccine, which relies on 140m eggs a year to incubate inoculations.
The CDC released a health advisory notice last Friday, recommending that doctors keep a lookout for possible avian flu among patients, especially those who frequently come into close contact with birds and animals.
Anyone in contact with birds and livestock, including agricultural workers, hunters, and backyard farmers, should wear protective gear and follow strict hygiene standards. They just need to pay extra attention to biosecurity and cleaning and disinfecting, Dinges said. Make sure they wash their hands and wear protective clothing and leave their clothing at the facility where they work clothing and footwear if at all possible.
An inmate who was culling infected flocks in Colorado became the first person in the US with a known bird flu infection in 2022.
On 20 March, Minnesota reported that baby goats were sickened by bird flu, marking the first time the virus had been discovered in livestock. Days later, the virus was also discovered among cows. Cows in North Carolina tested positive for bird flu on Wednesday, bringing the affected count up to 21 herds in seven states.
Genomic sequencing revealed that the spillover to cows did not seem to make the virus more transmissible to humans this time, so the risk of sustained human-to-human transmission is still low, said Seema Lakdawala, associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Emory University School of Medicine.
Transmission of influenza viruses in humans requires lots of different variables to align just right, and the current H5N1 viruses do not have all the correct parameters for spreading between humans, she wrote in an email.
However, the more the virus spills from birds into other hosts like cattle, foxes, seals, etc the more likely the virus is to change and gain properties that could lead to successful human-to-human transmission.
Avian influenza is an emerging disease among livestock, Dinges said, and theres a lot that we dont know about the pathogenesis in the cow itself. Were still kind of learning as we go here.
Its not clear how the herds encountered the virus, but the genomic sequences are very similar pointing to a single introduction, probably from a dead bird, that spread within the herds rather than several introductions over time.
The outbreak among dairy cows could lead to local shortages, but for now its unlikely to create national or regional shortages or price increases, said Tinglong Dai, professor of business at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. Thats because the US is in its high season for milk production.
In the spring and summer, usually, you have higher yields than during the winter, he said. Suppose this happened in the fall or in the winter: the supply chain impact would have been much bigger.
If the outbreak among cows continues in the fall, it could affect supply and prices. In the meantime, affected cows are being isolated until their illnesses pass.
Chickens, on the other hand, usually die from the virus, so producers cull them as soon as the virus is detected.
The most effective way to stop the spread is to kill the chickens, Dai said. That means prices for poultry and eggs could be more affected by this outbreak than for milk and cheese.
The manufacturing process for flu shots also relies heavily on eggs, and egg shortages in the past have led to vaccine shortages. So far, no vaccine makers have reported shortages.
Its just if the situation keeps going if infection spreads, again, we need to monitor very, very closely, Dai said. This also depends on how this is going to evolve in the coming days.
Scientists are sounding the alarm in order to keep farmers and other agricultural workers safe, and to continue monitoring the spread of the virus.
For example, its not clear how common it is for avian influenza to spill over from birds to animals, Lakdawala said. Currently, in the US, most of this surveillance is from examination of animals that are found sick or died.
If the virus has been quietly spilling over into other animal hosts that dont get very sick or die as with white-tailed deer and Covid scientists dont know about it. Thats why they need more funding for monitoring concerning viruses like the flu, Lakdawala said.
This is a gap we need to try to fill, but is hard to do without more resources and investment into large-scale surveillance programs.
{{topLeft}}
{{bottomLeft}}
{{topRight}}
{{bottomRight}}
{{.}}
One-timeMonthlyAnnual
Other
See the original post here:
Bird flu detected among chickens in Texas and Michigan - The Guardian US
- 4in1 flu vaccination can help protect from Swine Flu (H1N1) and three other flu strains - Times of India [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Two years on from our 'immune holiday', it's party time for germs. Here's why - Stuff [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Scientists hedging bets with mixed COVID vaccine for original strain and Omicron variants - Sky News [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- People aged 65 and over in Lothian to get winter booster jab as Scotlands winter vaccination programme gets under way - Edinburgh News [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- The U.K. Releases 55 Million Game Birds Every Year. This Group Says Not to Release Any Amid Avian Flu Fears - Outdoor Life [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Opinion | When Will the Pandemic End? And Other Pressing Questions, Answered - The New York Times [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- UArizona prepares for start of classes with resources on COVID, flu and monkeypox - University of Arizona News [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Thailand To Start Treating Covid Like The Flu From October - Travel Off Path [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Moderna plans single, annual shot for COVID, flu and other respiratory virus - WRAL News [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Got Flu? Heres How Long Youll Be Contagious - Health Essentials [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Extending dogs' lives, and sex and the immune system - MIT Technology Review [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- A fowl virus: What the bird flu means for PA agriculture and how to fight it - cityandstatepa.com [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- When is the Best Time to Get a Flu Shot This Year? - Healthline [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Scientists Have Re-Created The Deadly 1918 Flu Virus. Why? - Forbes [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Xofluza Approved to Treat and Prevent Flu in Children 5 to 12 Years Old - Everyday Health [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- Colds and the flu ruin our winters. COVID isnt nearly as pickybut this could be changing - Fortune [Last Updated On: August 15th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 15th, 2022]
- COVID-19 still a factor in almost 11K deaths in N.Y. this year - Times Union [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Higher risk of vein blood clots in COVID vs flu patients - CIDRAP [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Experts debunk monkeypox myths as misinformation spreads - The 19th* [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Pets Corner forced to shut to limit bird flu spread after virus detected in two of the city's parks - Leicestershire Live [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Leicester peregrine falcon that lived at Leicester Cathedral dies amid bird flu outbreak - Leicestershire Live [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Poorest at risk of flu if they cant afford to heat homes, minister admits - The Independent [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Theres good news in the crowded field of Omicron subvariants: Bad Ned is (nearly) deadbut Aeterna and Centaurus are on the rise - Fortune [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Portland will test wastewater for monkeypox and other viruses - Press Herald [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Experts warn of spike in Swine flu cases in Delhi: Know what it is & why you should be concerned - Economic Times [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- It's going to be a complicated fall for Covid and flu vaccinations - STAT - STAT [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- When COVID-19 or flu viruses kill, they often have an accomplice bacterial infections - The Conversation [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2022]
- Why is swine flu surging in Maharashtra? What are the symptoms? - The Indian Express [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2022]
- 3 cases of avian flu now suspected in Nunavut - CBC.ca [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2022]
- Avian flu vaccination becoming less of a taboo topic - WATTAgNet Industry News & Trends [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2022]
- Monkeypox transmission, vaccines and treatment | HealthFocus SA | University Health - University Health System [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2022]
- Getting a Grip on Influenza: The Pursuit of a Universal Vaccine (Part 2) - Forbes [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2022]
- Summer colds: this may explain why so many have suffered them this year - The Conversation [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2022]
- What is tomato flu? Very contagious virus detected in kids, docs warn - New York Post [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2022]
- Flu Viral: Here Are The Most Common Queries Answered - NDTV [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2022]
- Heres why you caught that summer cold, again - ThePrint [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2022]
- Getting a Grip on Influenza: The Pursuit of a Universal Vaccine (Part 3) - Forbes [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2022]
- What is the tomato flu? Scientists monitoring outbreak in India - FOX 35 Orlando [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2022]
- What to know about the tomato flu virus doctors are tracking in India - KRQE News 13 [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2022]
- Flu and COVID-19 do not belong to the same virus family - Rappler [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2022]
- 'Tomato Flu': Everything you need to know about the virus [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2022]
- Influenza - Wikipedia [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2022] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2022]
- Fauci warns of bad flu season brewing as he nears office exit - The Peninsula [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2022]
- Why is swine flu seeing a resurgence in India this year? - Scroll.in [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2022]
- What to know about the tomato flu virus doctors are tracking in India - WATE 6 On Your Side [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2022]
- Omicron boosters targeting the BA.4, BA.5 subvariants are coming to Colorado. Here's what you need to know. - Denver 7 Colorado News [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2022]
- Will the Flu Arrive by October 2022? - Precision Vaccinations [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2022]
- Synthetic DNA nasal spray could stop COVID, flu, and other viruses - Freethink [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2022]
- Detection of a novel bird flu virus with pandemic potential - News-Medical.Net [Last Updated On: September 3rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 3rd, 2022]
- 'Tomato flu' outbreak in India here's what it really is - Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2022]
- Covid-19: What NZ flu data is revealing about coronavirus - New Zealand Herald [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2022]
- Flu and Covid jab programme starts ahead of 'winter wave of respiratory virus' - HeraldScotland [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2022]
- Flu & COVID-19 vaccines recommended amidst concerning seasonal trends - AustinTexas.gov [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2022]
- After a challenging winter with the flu and Covid, coughs and colds are due to 'take a holiday' - Stuff [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2022]
- Global Influenza Vaccines Market Analysis/Forecast 2022-2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Analysis by Vaccine Type, Virus Type, Technology, and Route of... [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2022]
- Chewing to curb COVID | Penn Today - Penn Today [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2022]
- Seriously, Flu Could Be Bad This Year - The Atlantic [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2022]
- New bird flu wave in France raises fears deadly virus here to stay - Reuters [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2022]
- Novid: Freaks or flu-proof? - Times of India [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2022]
- Hantavirus: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention - Healthline [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2022]
- Turkey prices are surging ahead of Thanksgiving due to disease - CBS News [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2022]
- Swine flu: Warning signs and symptoms, treatments, key precautions to avoid H1N1 - Hindustan Times [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2022]
- Bird Flu Has Arrived in the U.S. Earlier Than Expected - Healthline [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2022]
- Avian influenza in major production hub in the Netherlands - Poultry World [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2022]
- The great RTO/WFH war means COVID is really over this fall - Fortune [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2022]
- 'It looked like a triage in there': Riders ravaged by stomach flu in Banjo Bowl blowout - 3downnation.com [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2022]
- Is it a Cold or the Flu? - Onmanorama [Last Updated On: September 12th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 12th, 2022]
- Reconfiguring COVID and influenza vaccines for long-term effectiveness - - pharmaphorum [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- Flu shot, COVID boosters, TPOXX treatments and more with Andrea Garcia, JD, MPH - American Medical Association [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- Record flu surge predicted this winter as health experts urge people to get their shots - Cambridgeshire Live [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- Bite-Size Science: A pandemic of the animal kingdom? Bird flu outbreak spreads to marine mammal populations - Tufts Daily [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- Explainer: Everything you need to know about Swine flu - Hindustan Times [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- Updated Boosters Are Optimized to Better Protect Against Newer COVID-19 Variants - University of Utah Health Care [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- Ducks offer clues to avian influenza risk - MPR News [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- Flu season is here: Symptoms, shots and side effects - Nebraska Medicine [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- Why COVID Is Still Worse Than Flu - The Atlantic [Last Updated On: September 23rd, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 23rd, 2022]
- How to get a booster shot at Yale and in New Haven - Yale Daily News [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2022]
- Campylobacter Gastroenteritis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention - Healthline [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2022]
- Junior Museum and Zoo removes birds from view amid avian flu outbreak - Mountain View Voice [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2022]
- Dutch trials begin on bird flu vaccination in first year-round outbreak - DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2022] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2022]