"First Case of Bird Flu (H5N1) Found in Pig in the U.S."
Bird Flu (H5N1) Found in a Pig in the U.S. for the First Time
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that bird flu (H5N1) has been found in a pig in the United States for the first time. The case was discovered on a small farm in Oregon where both poultry and livestock, including pigs, lived together. On this farm, animals shared water, housing, and equipment, which may have allowed the virus to spread between different species.
After H5N1 was detected in other animals on the farm, five pigs were euthanized for testing. Two of these pigs tested negative, and the results for the remaining two are still pending. The farm has been quarantined, and other animals are being closely watched. However, since this was not a commercial farm, there is no concern about the safety of pork sold in the U.S., according to the USDA.
H5N1 is a type of flu that rarely infects humans but is very contagious and deadly for many animals, especially birds and some livestock. Experts worry that if the virus spreads to pigs, it could change in a way that might make it easier to infect people. Pigs are considered a "mixing bowl" for flu viruses because they can be infected by viruses from both birds and humans. This can sometimes lead to new strains of the virus. For example, the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009 likely started when a virus in pigs mutated and spread to people.
So far this year, more than 20 people in the U.S. have tested positive for H5N1, most of whom had contact with infected chickens or dairy cows, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Some experts, like Dr. Michael Osterholm, have raised questions about whether the pig in Oregon was truly infected or if the virus was just found on its nose due to environmental contamination. A 2023 study showed that pigs are not easily infected with H5N1, suggesting they have a high resistance to the virus.
Other experts, such as Dr. Scott Weese, believe the virus detected in the pig likely came from infected birds on the farm. He noted that while the virus might not spread further in pigs, the situation highlights how farms with different types of animals living closely together can increase the risk of cross-contamination.
The USDA and other scientists are continuing to study the case to understand more about how the virus may have spread. They are especially interested in learning whether the virus can pass from mammal to mammal, which could pose a greater risk to humans.
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