Rapid spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus has reached an “unprecedented” scale this season, wiping out hundreds of millions of birds worldwide and increasingly infecting mammals, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations warned on March 16. The spread of the virus poses significant risks from food and public health perspectives. … Read more
The recent detection of a new strain of H5N1 bird flu in US dairy herds has raised alarms among scientists. A US Department of Agriculture report noted that the D1.1 genotype has a mutation that may facilitate the virus spread in mammals, including humans. Concerns are growing amid disruptions in epidemiological data sharing under the … Read more
TOPLINE: An analysis of individuals with laboratory-confirmed highly pathogenic A(H5N1) virus infections in the United States reveals conjunctivitis as the primary symptom affecting those exposed to animals, with most cases being generally mild. METHODOLOGY: Researchers analyzed data of 46 patients (median age, 34 years; 80% men) with laboratory-confirmed A(H5N1) virus infections collected through surveillance monitoring … Read more