A recent report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revealed a concerning development: bird flu infections have been detected among cattle veterinarians in the United States, even including two individuals who had no apparent exposure to animals carrying the virus. The cases were identified last fall and have raised alarms within the public health community.
This discovery comes amidst an ongoing outbreak of bird flu that has affected nearly 70 individuals in the U.S. since last April, resulting in one fatality. The majority of these infections have been among farmworkers who came into contact with infected poultry or cows. However, the new cases among veterinarians suggest a broader spread of the virus than initially anticipated.
According to the CDC report, three out of 150 veterinarians tested in September 2024 were found to have been infected with the bird flu virus. Alarmingly, two of these veterinarians had not been in contact with animals known to be sick with bird flu, and one was not practicing in a state where the virus had been previously detected among cattle. Despite testing positive, none of the veterinarians showed any flu-like symptoms or signs of conjunctivitis, a common symptom of bird flu among farmworkers.
The lack of information about the prevalence of human bird flu cases has raised concerns among experts, including Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Offit emphasized the need for enhanced surveillance, particularly within the poultry and dairy industries where the virus appears to be circulating.
The findings from the CDC report suggest that there may be more cases of bird flu among dairy cattle in states across the country than currently known. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that nearly 1,000 dairy herds in 16 states have been infected with bird flu, with the most recent cases reported in California and Nevada. Notably, a second strain of the virus has been detected among dairy herds in Nevada, highlighting the evolving nature of the outbreak.
In response to the growing threat, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has implemented a nationwide mandatory milk testing program to identify bird flu among dairy herds. However, challenges remain as some farmers and workers have been reluctant to undergo testing due to concerns about lost income and disruptions to their operations. This resistance has sparked fears of undercounts in reported cases and underscores the need for increased vigilance and cooperation in combating the spread of the virus.
As the situation continues to evolve, public health officials and experts are urging heightened surveillance, testing, and containment measures to prevent further spread of bird flu among both animals and humans. The interconnected nature of the agricultural and public health sectors underscores the importance of a coordinated and proactive response to this emerging threat.
(Reporting by Leah Douglas in Washington; additional reporting by Tom Polansek in Chicago; writing by Susan Heavey; editing by Chris Reese, Bill Berkrot and Aurora Ellis)
