U.S. Health Authorities Intensify Monitoring of H5N1 Bird Flu Spread
U.S. health authorities are closely monitoring the H5N1 avian influenza virus following genetic analysis of a recent case in California. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released findings on December 10, 2024, showing that the virus strain in a California child most closely resembles the B3.13 genotype found in cattle.
The CDC confirmed that while virus RNA levels were insufficient for complete sequencing, complex genetic analysis determined the strain’s similarity to variants circulating in dairy cattle. This development comes as H5N1 has been detected in over 860 dairy farms and more than 123 million poultry across the United States.
“The good news, so far, is that no clear person-to-person transmission of any significant nature has been documented,” explained Dr. Andrew Pekosz, professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. However, health officials remain vigilant as the virus has shown ability to jump between species.
More than 50 human cases have been confirmed in the U.S., with most linked to direct contact with infected animals. The detection of H5N1 in a pig earlier this year raised additional concerns about the virus’s potential for mutation and adaptation to mammals.
Health authorities continue to emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low, while maintaining enhanced surveillance systems to detect any changes in transmission patterns.
Source: https://kffhealthnews.org/morning-briefing/wednesday-december-11-2024/