Although outbreaks in flocks of poultry result in culling on a huge scale in an attempt to minimise the spread, it looks like this will not take place for cattle. The CDC has so far told the farmers with implicated herds to destroy the milk produced by infected cattle, though it is thought that the pasteurisation process could also kill the virus.
Dr Erik Karlsson, director of the National Influenza Center of Cambodia, told the Telegraph the latest case presents an “interesting, but perhaps not unexpected, twist” in the ongoing H5N1 outbreak.
“Traditionally, our attention has been focused on pigs and poultry as the primary vectors for influenza transmission; however, we do know that cattle can be infected with several influenzas. And experimental evidence suggests cattle can be infected with influenza from avian, swine, and humans.
“The implications of this finding are still unfolding, but this spillover aligns with the broader pattern of [H5N1] infections, spanning across a diverse array of mammals,” he said.
Dr Karlsson added that the case not only raises questions about the risk to humans, but also “casts a spotlight on the broader implications for global agricultural practices, economic stability, and international trade.”
“Overall, I think this situation serves as a reminder of the ever-evolving nature of zoonotic viruses and their capacity to disrupt scientific and economic landscapes,” he said. “As always, there is clear need for continued vigilance, active surveillance, and interdisciplinary research in the face of avian influenza.”
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