April 30, 2024

Bird flu detected in Colorado, US dairy herd as lawmakers call for stricter measures

Colorado has joined the ranks of US states grappling with bird flu in dairy herds, making it the ninth US state to report such cases, according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Reuters reported.

This development comes as federal lawmakers advocate for a more robust response to contain the virus, and tests on milk suggest a wider spread of the outbreak than initially thought.

Milking cows in Colorado have tested positive for bird flu, following earlier infections in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho, New Mexico, North Carolina, and South Dakota. Additionally, a Texas farm worker has been confirmed to have contracted the virus, suffering from conjunctivitis after exposure to infected dairy cows.

Lawmakers, including Republican US Senator Mitt Romney, are pressing for a stronger federal response, citing concerns about the potential risks to public health. They are advocating for the reauthorisation of legislation such as the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act to bolster the nation's readiness to address pandemics and public health threats.

Dr Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist, said that the genetic sequences of the virus in the human case differ significantly from those found in infected cattle. He highlighted the widespread nature of the epidemic, suggesting that additional actions are necessary to contain its spread effectively.

The US Food and Drug Administration revealed that one in five commercial milk samples contained particles of the H5N1 virus. While there is confidence in the pasteurisation process to deactivate the virus, further testing is required to confirm its absence in milk.

Democratic US Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin has urged the USDA to allocate additional resources to states to prevent the disease from entering dairy herds. The White House has initiated an immediate response team to monitor trends, mitigate risks, and safeguard the nation's food supply.

The USDA will mandate dairy cattle to test negative for bird flu before interstate movement. Meanwhile, officials in Indiana are considering potential restrictions, such as state-wide testing, despite no confirmed cases, according to Bret Marsh, the state veterinarian.

-      Reuters