like bird flu continues to spread among livestock in the US, WebMD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined forces Thursday to present a live-streamed briefing on the status of the outbreak.
The presentation, called “WebMD and CDC Present, Avian Flu 2024: What You Need to Know,” was moderated by Neha Pathak, MD, medical editor-in-chief of WebMD in Atlanta, Georgia.
The first reports of sick dairy cows reached USDA in early March, according to Eric Deeble, deputy assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Congressional Relations Office in Washington, DC.
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Tests revealed that the cows had contracted H5N1, more commonly known as bird flu or bird flu.
“Any new livestock disease is a big concern for us,” Deeble said during the briefing.
As bird flu continues to spread among livestock in the US, WebMD and the CDC released an update on Thursday. (Getty Images)
“H5N1 in cattle is a relatively mild disease. They generally recover after supportive care” in two to three weeks, he said.
“Their milk volume returns to normal, they appear healthy and continue to feed as they did before they became ill.”
“Any new livestock disease is a big concern for us.”
So far, the USDA has detected H5N1 in 49 dairy herds in nine states, Deeble said.
“To put that in perspective, that's about 1% of dairy farms in the affected states and about 1/10 of 1% nationally,” he said.
A federal USDA order limiting the movement of lactating dairy cattle went into effect on April 29 in an effort to monitor and compile H5N1 test results.
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“Under this order, dairy farmers must test their cows before moving them across state lines so we know those cows are free of H5N1 and do not pose a risk to any new herds,” Deeble said.
The order also requires that any test results detecting the presence of H5N1 be reported to USDA laboratories.
No current dietary risk, experts say
Deeble assured those tuning in Thursday that there is no risk in consuming milk and meat.
“I can say without reservation that our commercial milk and meat supplies are safe,” he said. “At no time were animals sick with H5N1 or any other animal disease allowed into our food supply.”
He added: “The USDA has never detected H5N1 in meat sold at retail.”
The first reports of sick dairy cows reached the USDA in early March, health officials said. (iStock)
Testing has confirmed that cooking meat to an internal temperature of 155 or higher is enough to eliminate all traces of the virus, Deeble said.
In the case of milk, the pasteurization process ensures it is safe to drink, he said.
“Our milk reaches a high temperature for a short period of time, inactivating H5N1, as well as other bacteria and viruses that could make someone sick,” he said.
Risk of transmission to humans
The overall risk to the public from bird flu is low, according to Dr. Nirav D. Shah, MD, principal deputy director of the CDC in Atlanta.
“That's partly because it's rare for people to get infected bird flu virus — but it has happened,” he said during the briefing.
“If it happens, it is usually through unprotected direct contact with infected animals, for example without wearing gloves, masks or eye protection.”
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In April, the CDC reported a human case of bird flu in a dairy worker in Texas, Shah said.
“This person's only symptom was red eyes or conjunctivitis,” he said. “After testing positive, this person was provided [with] a antiviral medication and fortunately he made a full recovery. “There have been no new or additional human cases since this individual in Texas.”
Other symptoms to watch for include cough, fever, muscle aches and fatigue, according to Shah.
Experts said there is no risk associated with consuming commercially purchased milk. (iStock)
Although the overall risk to humans is low, the CDC is taking “aggressive steps” to ensure Americans stay well and informed, Shah said.
“Right now, one of our main areas of focus is farmworker safety and security, specifically making sure workers have access to personal protective equipment… like gloves, goggles or face masks, which can help to reduce the risk of exposure if they occur.
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CDC is also working with local health departments to ensure that sick farmers are tested for bird flu and to monitor their status.
“On top of that, scientists in our labs here at CDC are looking closely at bird flu viruses to see if there are any changes in their DNA that might tell us whether these viruses can spread more easily to people, between people, and, more importantly, whether they could be causing more serious illness,” Shah added.
Although the overall risk to humans is low, the CDC is taking “aggressive steps” to make sure Americans stay well and informed, one doctor said. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File photo)
Although the risk to the public “remains low” at present, the doctor offered guidance for certain groups who may be at higher risk.
“If you work around animals, whether chickens, cattle or pigs, and develop signs and symptoms that could otherwise be the flu, it is important to be sure to call a healthcare provider and have a conversation with them.”
It's not another COVID, experts say
The current situation of bird flu is different from that early days of COVID-19Shah said during the briefing.
“We are in a very different place because of more than two decades of investment in planning and preparedness for things like influenza,” he said.
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“As a result of that extensive planning and preparation, medications are available.”
If those drugs are given early, they can reduce the severity and duration of the illness, as was the case with the Texas farmer, Shah noted.
“This is just one of the many ways in which… flu and bird flu differ from what many of us remember from four years ago,” he added.
Vaccines and prevention
The traditional flu vaccine doesn't provide much protection against bird flu, experts noted.
“Even though they are… basically the same virus, they differ enough that the flu vaccine, which we hope everyone gets, doesn't do a great job of protecting you,” Shah said.
“It may cost a little, but it's not enough to break the bank.”
“We are not at a point where vaccination is recommended for anyone,” one doctor said at Thursday's briefing. (Julian Stratenschulte/dpa)
David Boucher, PhD, director of Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response at ASPR in Washington, D.C., spoke during Thursday's briefing about the possible need for a bird flu vaccine.
“We are not at a point where vaccination is recommended for anyone,” he said.
Through the National Influenza Vaccine Program, ASPR works with health partners to identify influenza viruses that are “just a little bit different from what we've seen in the past,” Boucher said.
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For a new virus, the team develops “building blocks” of a vaccine, he noted.
“The good news is that this system has worked as we expected and we have an initial supply of the basic elements that we would need if we needed vaccines for the [H5N1] virus,” he said.
To monitor possible spread, the CDC is watching for an increase in emergency department visits or lab tests that could indicate a “cluster of cases,” one doctor said. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)
In that scenario, Boucher said, ASPR could partner with seasonal flu vaccine manufacturers for “large-scale” production.
Boucher also emphasized the importance of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, goggles, face shields and N95 masks, for farm workers who may be around infected animals.
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To monitor possible spread, the CDC is watching for an increase in emergency department visits or lab tests that could indicate a “cluster of cases,” Shah said.
“We're also looking more recently at the wastewater to see if there are any changes in it,” he said.
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People can stay up to date on the latest developments in bird flu from the CDC, USDA, FDA and other reliable sources of information, Shah added.
“We must be alert, not alarmed.”
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