In a concerning development, a dairy farm worker in Texas has been confirmed to have contracted the highly infectious strain of avian influenza, H5N1, from cattle. This marks the second case of H5N1 infection in humans in the US in the past two years. What is particularly alarming about this case is that the virus appears to have jumped from another mammal to humans for the first time.
Virologists are now on high alert as they fear the virus could potentially adapt to spread more easily between humans. H5N1 was first detected in chickens back in 1959 and has since caused 882 human cases with a 52% case fatality rate. The current subtype of H5N1, 2.3.4.4b, has been rapidly spreading in domestic and wild birds, as well as infecting other mammal species.
There is now an urgent need for surveillance to monitor if H5N1 starts spreading between pigs or ferrets, animals with similar receptor profiles to humans. Experts are describing the current situation with H5N1 as “extremely worrying” and are concerned about the potential for a human pandemic strain to emerge.
The fact that this virus has now been transmitted from cattle to a human raises serious concerns about the potential for further transmission and adaptation. It is crucial for authorities to closely monitor the situation and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of this dangerous virus. The health and safety of both humans and animals are at stake, and swift action must be taken to prevent a possible outbreak. Stay tuned to ‘The Puck Drop’ for further updates on this developing situation.
