A highly pathogenic avian influenza virus "can cause disease that affects multiple internal organs with mortality up to 90% to 100%in chickens, often within 48 hours," the CDC notes. (2023, April 19). The US is currently experiencing its worst-ever outbreak of bird flu, also known as avian influenza and a new study has found that the strain could become endemic in the country. But she notes that U.S. egg prices can be affected if just a few farms have to dispose of their flocks. Peru decreed a 90-day health emergency in December 2022 after more than 13,000 pelicans died on its beaches, possibly infected with H5N1. The deaths of chickens, turkeys and other birds represent the worst U.S. animal-healthdisasterto date, topping the previous record of 50.5 million birds that died in an avian-flu outbreak in 2015. University of Maryland. The primary natural hosts and reservoir of AI viruses are wild waterfowl, such as ducks and geese. At this time, the Department of Agriculture has not approved the use of vaccination in the U.S. for protecting birds from avian influenza. Bird flu has led to the death and slaughter of 316 million poultry worldwide . Left: Better known as the bird flu, avian influenza is a group of flu viruses that is well adapted to birds. Ask the Expert: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses. One fear, says Thijs Kuiken, an avian influenza expert at Erasmus University Rotterdam, is that H5N1 will spread south of the U.S. border. As these birds migrate, crisscrossing continents and oceans, they can carry the virus with them. Ultimately, the USDAs goal is to eradicate HPAI quickly after it is detected. Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images. One of the people infected in Cambodia, an 11-year-old girl, died from the illness. Scientists continue to monitor the ongoing global avian influenza outbreak also referred to as bird flu that has killed millions of birds and has now crossed over to some species of mammals. The unprecedented spread of disease and 2022's high inflation rates raising farmers' costs caused the jump and it doesn't look like it will change soon. November 3, 2022 As bird flu outbreaks in wild birds and poultry continue across the U.S., the country approaches a record number of birds affected compared to previous bird flu outbreaks. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. These cases do not change the human risk assessment to the general public, which CDC considers to be low. This happens when multiple strains of the virus circulating in the bird population exchange genes to create a new strain of the virus, much as new strains of COVID-19 like omicron and delta have emerged during the ongoing pandemic. But this new virus appears sustained throughout the year, with summertime disease detections in wild birds and poultry outbreaks occurring in both the spring and fall. The outbreak is "wiping out everything in numbers we've never seen before," Jennifer Mullinax, an assistant professor of environmental science and technology at the University of Maryland, told Sky News. Between December 2022 and February 2023, highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been detected in wild aquatic birds (pelicans and penguins) and sea mammals (sea lions) in the Antofagasta Region where the case resides. Seasonal flu vaccination will not prevent infection with bird flu viruses, but can reduce the risk of getting sick with human and bird flu viruses at the same time. Experts found the H5N1 Eurasian strain, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus type. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); SciTechDaily: Home of the best science and technology news since 1998. By contrast, humans experience influenza as a respiratory infection and spread it by breathing and coughing. Thus, to become efficient at infecting humans, H5N1 would likely need to mutate to use a2,6-linked sialic acid as its receptor. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. said Jennifer Mullinax, assistant professor in the UMD Department of Environmental Science & Technology and a co-author of the study. The data show the progression of highly pathogenic H5N1 as it spread from Eurasia to the U.S. where it was first documented in late 2021. Avian influenza can spread quickly and appears to be almost 100% fatal for some species. It is safe to eat properly handled and cooked poultry in the United States. At least 50.54 million birds have died this year from the Avian flu, according to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.. Why it matters: This represents the highest amount of deaths of chickens, turkeys and other birds since 50.5 million died from an outbreak in 2015, according to Reuters. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)a disease infecting birds and poultrystruck egg-laying hens throughout 2022. The UK has experienced its largest outbreak of avian flu. But scientists didn't know until the recent outbreak how infected condors would fare. Yuko Sato, The Conversation "Why this bird flu is different: Scientists say new avian influenza requires urgent coordinated response." The presence of the virus in the commercial food chain raises a number of possible trade headaches but so would using a vaccine to fight it. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/what-consumers-need-to-know-about-the-avian-flu-outbreak, As avian flu spreads, North American zoos take precautions to protect birds, Americans may soon pay more for milk, cheese as rising heat stresses livestock, For Midwest farmers, floodwaters threaten millions in crop and livestock losses, outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, depression, coughing and sneezing and sudden death, the risk to public health from this outbreak is low, last H5N1 outbreak in the U.S. in 2014 and 2015, travel thousands of miles between continents, eradicate HPAI quickly after it is detected. As a result of recurrent outbreaks, U.S. egg inventories were 29 percent lower in the final week of December 2022 than at the beginning of the year. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. "I'm hopeful that this is not the new normal for us," Richard Webby, director of the World Health Organization's Collaborating Center for Studies on the the Ecology of Influenza in Animals, tells NPR. By University of Colorado Boulder Sign up for notifications from Insider! Keep up with the latest scitech news via email or social media. Copyright 1998 - 2023 SciTechDaily. "Unlike H5N8, this disease is heavily impacting wild birds," said Johanna Harvey, a postdoctoral researcher at UMD and lead author of the study. The researchers hope their work will bring key players to the table to consider the next steps. This graphic shows how bird flu viruses can spread between infected birds and people. Questions? However, vaccines could be used to help control an outbreak, and this is an option that the agency is investigating now. They have to remove dead birds, disinfect their facility and bring new birds in thats a several-month process to do that, said Kevin Snekvik, the executive director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory at Washington State University. The USDAs Defend the Flock Program includes, for instance, information on biosecurity measures and how to spot signs of illness. Liu Guanguan/China News Service via Getty Images Email address is optional. The worst outbreak of avian influenza on record is threatening to stretch into a second year, as the U.S. races to contain a virus that has already caused some food prices to soar amid a shortage of eggs. Many people are concerned about the 2022-2023 outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, that is affecting domestic poultry, waterfowl, raptors, and some shorebirds in the U.S. and Canada. In late 2022, mammal-to-mammal spread occurred in Spain in farmed minks. The Biden administration is considering vaccinating farmed poultry flocks, but the logistics could be quite complicated. Farms there are likely to be more vulnerable. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. That includes millions of chickens and turkeys in barns and backyards that had been raised to provide eggs or meat. People with job-related or recreational exposures to birds or infected mammals should take. Virus can be fatal. Authorities immediately placed workers on the farm under quarantine restrictions. 1996 - 2023 NewsHour Productions LLC. In January, Insider's George Glover explained the egg crisis facing Americans as prices surged by almost 60% in 2022 due to the influenza outbreak. Local weather conditions also influence how the virus spreads. U.S. experts had been bracing for an outbreak, watching successful strains of the H5N1 influenza virus proliferate in Europe and elsewhere. The H5N1 avian influenza virus is causing the largest bird flu outbreak in history, infecting millions of birds and a growing range of mammal species. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. Evan Bush is a science reporter for NBC News. A weekly update of the most important issues driving the global agenda. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230419125054.htm (accessed April 30, 2023). A University of Maryland (UMD)-led team of researchers tracked the arrival and progression of the deadly bird flu (H5N1) in North America to determine how this outbreak is different from previous ones. Just one or two mutations could make H5N1 more efficient at infecting humans. Saving Lives, Protecting People, 1 case in U.S. after exposure to infected birds, Human Infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in Chile, Human Infection with Avian Influenza A(H3N8) Virus Reported by China, Technical Report: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses, If you have contact with infected birds and become sick, Clinician, laboratorian or public health worker, Highlights in the History of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Timeline 2020-2023, Avian Influenza: Information for Health Professionals and Laboratorians, USDA: Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, USDA: Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in North America, Technical Report: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Viruses (cdc.gov), Human Infection With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus in Chile (cdc.gov), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Bird Flu Detections Reporting in Wild Birds, Bird Flu Detections Reporting in Backyard and Commercial Birds, Frequently Asked Questions about Avian Influenza, Spread of Bird Flu Viruses Between Animals and People, Past Examples of Probable Limited, Non-Sustained, Person-to-Person Spread of Avian Influenza A Viruses, Reported Human Infections with Avian Influenza A Viruses, Information for People Exposed to Birds Infected with Avian Influenza Viruses of Public Health Concern, Recommendations for Worker Protection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Self-Observation Instructions for Demobilizing Bird Flu Responders, Highlights in the History of Avian Influenza, Questions & Answers: H5N1 Genetic Change Inventory, Interim Guidance on Testing, Specimen Collection, and Processing for Patients with Suspected Infection with Novel Influenza A Viruses with the Potential to Cause Severe Disease in Humans, Diagnostics for Detecting H7N9 Using rRT-PCR, Infection Control Within Healthcare Settings for Patients with Novel Influenza A Viruses, For Clinicians: Evaluating and Managing Patients, Use of Antiviral Medications for Treatment of Human Infections with Novel Influenza A Viruses, Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis of Persons Exposed to Birds with Avian Influenza A Viruses, Follow-up of Close Contacts of Persons Infected with Novel Influenza A Viruses and Use of Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Comparing the current U.S. virus to the one in Europe, Webby says, "From the outside looking in, they look very similar. The deaths of chickens, turkeys and other birds represent the worst U.S. animal-health disaster to date, topping the previous record of 50.5 million birds that died in an avian-flu outbreak in 2015. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. The researchers believe that bird flu will probably become endemic a phenomenon where a disease is constantly present within an area or community in the US which could affect food security and the economy. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, drove the cost of turkey meat to record highs. H5N1 is a specific type of influenza virus, predominantly harbored by birds, that was first detected on a goose farm in China in 1996. CDC twenty four seven. Remember that the seasonal flu vaccine must be remade every year, even though the general types of flu viruses that it protects against are the same, because the specific genetic variants that affect humans change from year to year. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. He can be reached at Evan.Bush@nbcuni.com. As those birds traveled, so did the virus. The first reason that so much attention is being paid to bird flu right now is that currently H5N1 is causing the largest bird pandemic ever recorded. More than 40 million egg-laying hens have been culled in the U.S. alone, causing the price of eggs nationwide to skyrocket, Lorenzoni said. Recently it has begun infecting an exploding diversity of bird and mammalian species around the globe. Yuko Sato is an associate professor of veterinary medicine at Iowa State University. "Generally, when the weather gets hot, influenza goes away for the most part," Hagerman says. With avian influenza viruses, it is not possible to make effective human vaccines in advance, because we dont know exactly what the genetics of the virus will be if it starts to spread well in humans. Introduction of the Eurasian lineage HPAI to North . "Wild birds are the perfect mechanism to spread a virus because they, of course, fly everywhere," he adds. We call this process the four Ds of outbreak control: diagnosis, depopulation, disposal and decontamination. Stay up to date with what you want to know. But H5N1 poses new challenges. But the new, more contagious strain is particularly affecting wild birds, Sky News reported. And we now have the highest amount of poultry loss to avian influenza, so this is a worst-case scenario.". What are the triggers for different actions, and how do we measure if we're succeeding? There are also concerns that the virus could mutate as it continues to spread or infect other animals. Visit CDCs avian influenza (bird flu) information for health professional and laboratorians webpage for the latest guidance. However, sometimes a flu virus can acquire mutations that allow it to infect cells in a different part of the body. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. Nearly 58 million birds from commercial and backyard flocks have been wiped out in the U.S. since last February, according to the U.S. Department of Agricultures Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. "Generally you need two doses of a vaccine and then a length of time to achieve full effectiveness.". The process is much like dealing with a human pandemic. Avian influenza viruses are classified as either "low pathogenic" or "highly pathogenic" based on their genetic features and the severity of the disease they cause in poultry. Bird flu infections in people are rare, but possible. Highlights in the History of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Timeline 2020-2023, Reported Global Reported Global Human Infections with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) (HPAI H5N1) by Country, 1997-2022, Classification of bird flu viruses section, Reported Human Infections with Bird Flu Viruses, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), Bird Flu Detections Reporting in Wild Birds, Bird Flu Detections Reporting in Backyard and Commercial Birds, Frequently Asked Questions about Avian Influenza, Spread of Bird Flu Viruses Between Animals and People, Past Examples of Probable Limited, Non-Sustained, Person-to-Person Spread of Avian Influenza A Viruses, Reported Human Infections with Avian Influenza A Viruses, Information for People Exposed to Birds Infected with Avian Influenza Viruses of Public Health Concern, Recommendations for Worker Protection and Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Self-Observation Instructions for Demobilizing Bird Flu Responders, Highlights in the History of Avian Influenza, Questions & Answers: H5N1 Genetic Change Inventory, Interim Guidance on Testing, Specimen Collection, and Processing for Patients with Suspected Infection with Novel Influenza A Viruses with the Potential to Cause Severe Disease in Humans, Diagnostics for Detecting H7N9 Using rRT-PCR, Infection Control Within Healthcare Settings for Patients with Novel Influenza A Viruses, For Clinicians: Evaluating and Managing Patients, Use of Antiviral Medications for Treatment of Human Infections with Novel Influenza A Viruses, Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis of Persons Exposed to Birds with Avian Influenza A Viruses, Follow-up of Close Contacts of Persons Infected with Novel Influenza A Viruses and Use of Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Sporadic highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infections in, The first case of an avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in a person in the United States was reported on April 28, 2022. A certain viral variant that arose in 2020, called H5N1 2.3.4.4b, is driving this outbreak.
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