Dairy cattle in Nevada was infected with a new type of bird flu that differs from the version that has spread since last year in US herds, agriculture announced on Wednesday.
The proof indicates that different forms of the virus known as type -a -a -h5n1 are adopted at least twice from wild birds. Experts said that it raises new questions about the broader spread and the difficulty of controlling infections in animals, and the people who work closely with them.
“I always found that bird-to-cow transmission is a very rare event. That may not seem to be the case, ”said Richard Webby, an influenza expert at the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
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A version of the H5N1 bird flu virus known as B3.13 was confirmed in March after they were introduced to cattle at the end of 2023, said scientists. It infected more than 950 herds in 16 countries. The new version, known as D1.1, was confirmed in Nevada Vieh on Friday. It was found in milk that was collected as part of a surveillance program started in December.
“Now we know why it is really important to test and test it further,” said Angela Rasmussen, a virus expert at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, which contributed to identifying the first spillover.
The D1.1 version of the virus was the type that was associated with the first US death with bird flu and a serious illness in Canada. A person in Louisiana died in January after they had developed severe breath symptoms after contacting wild and back yard birds. In British Columbia, a youthful girl was hospitalized for months with a virus that was due to poultry.
At least 67 people in the USA were infected with bird flu, mainly those who work closely with dairy products or cattle, according to the US centers for the control and prevention of diseases.
USDA officials said that later this week they would publish genetic sequences and other information about the new form of the virus into a public repository. Scientists said that this would be the key to understanding whether the Spillover was a current event or whether the virus may be widespread longer.
“If it turns out that this came to cattle a few months ago, it is a long time not to recognize it” cattle.
He added that it was important for federal officials to immediately share information about a virus that has the potential to trigger a pandemic that “could appear like a walk in the park”.
“It is an essential part of national security, global security, the well -being of people, animals and companies in the USA,” added Worobey.
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