It has been confirmed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that Washington, Kentucky and Montana have reported bird flu cases in mammals this year.
Officials of the US cautioned citizens about the spread of avian flu, or H5N1, to marine mammals, highlighting the associated risk.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed bird flu cases in mammals this year in Washington, Kentucky, and Montana. Kentucky identified the virus in a raccoon, while Washington and Montana detected it in three striped skunks and a mountain lion, respectively.
The USDA stated that the virus can cause illness, including severe disease and, in some instances, death.
Avian flu in the US
For decades, the virus has been prevalent among wild birds, especially poultry, affecting over 82 million animals across 48 states.
With its expansion to mammals, concerns about contracting the virus have arisen among people, although the current risk remains low.
Dr Chris Walzer, from the Wildlife Conservation Society, said while speaking to CBS News that it is highly probable. He emphasized that the avian influenza outbreak poses a significant threat to wildlife worldwide, underscoring the urgency to address it before impacting human populations.
He urged for improved disease tracking to protect humans from the virus, which is acquiring new traits that may pose a threat to human health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautioned that individuals working at poultry farms should take precautions, as they could be at an increased risk of contracting avian flu.
What does the latest study say?
Since 2022, H5N1 has resulted in the deaths of over 65,000 wild birds and 50,000 animals in Chile, Peru, and Argentina. The outbreak has caused record-high egg prices in the US and significant setbacks in California’s poultry sector.
Traditionally associated with bird populations, H5N1 has now spread to marine animals, particularly along the Atlantic coast of South America. This development has raised concerns about the potential transmission of the virus to humans.
In a recent study, scientists investigated brain samples from deceased sea lions in an affected rookery in Argentina. Alarmingly, all samples, including those from sea lions, fur seals, and terns, tested positive for the virus.
Agustina Rimondi, a virologist from the National Institute of Agricultural Technology in Argentina, stated, “This confirms that while the virus may have adapted to marine mammals, it still has the ability to infect birds.” She emphasized that it is a multi-species outbreak.
