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As bird flu spreads in cows, here are 4 big questions scientists are trying to answer
libertybele:
As bird flu spreads in cows, here are 4 big questions scientists are trying to answer
It's been a month since the surprising discovery of bird flu in dairy cattle, and each week seems to bring more surprises.
Take the latest revelation: viral fragments in retail milk.
Scientists don't view this as an immediate threat to human health.
Genetic material is not the same as infectious virus and pasteurization is expected to inactivate the virus in milk, but the findings speak to the broader uncertainty about the extent of the spread.
"There's so many critical things that we still need to know to get a better perspective on how bad this is, or maybe it's not so bad," says Dr. Rick Bright, a virologist and the former head of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
Federal health agencies started sharing more details publicly this week, but Bright says there's still not enough transparency.
"It's the void that just leaves everyone nervous," he says
Other scientists say the reality is that there are still many unresolved questions about this outbreak, given how novel it is.
"There's a couple big unknowns at this point," says Louise Moncla, a virologist at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.
Here's what scientists who are tracking the virus still want to know:
How widespread is the virus in dairy cattle?
That's still far from clear.
While the official tally shows it's been detected in eight states and just over 30 herds, the actual number could be much larger.
First of all, there hasn't been widespread testing in cattle.
The fact that viral material is now being found in retail milk suggests "this virus is probably spread around quite a bit," says Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee.
On Thursday, the FDA said that preliminary results from nationwide samples of retail milk indicate about one in five samples are positive for viral traces. A survey of retail milk in the Midwest found 58 out of 150 samples were positive, according to Andrew Bowman at the Ohio State University. ....................
https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/26/1247479100/bird-avian-flu-cows-cattle-milk-virus-unanswered-questions
libertybele:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Detections in Livestock
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and State veterinary and public health officials are investigating an illness among dairy cows.
As we learn more about this evolving situation, APHIS will continue to provide confirmatory testing for samples from livestock as well as guidance for producers, veterinarians, and state animal health officials. As the situation changes, we will continue to post updated information at the links below. ...............
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock
mountaineer:
An Amazing “Coincidence”: American Cattle Rancher warned the USDA would use this Bird Flu outbreak to start the EID Tags on cattle mandate. The USDA just mandated EID Tags on cattle & bison for the reason of “Disease Traceability.”
Another disease that was ALL ABOUT CONTROL
--- End quote ---
https://twitter.com/WallStreetApes/status/1785125399237992515
Wingnut:
Milk prices will soar.
The Gov wants/will put Dairy farm out of business in the name of "Public safety" But really because of climate change. Cows farts and all.
mountaineer:
You vill eat bugs, and like it!
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