CDC Unveils Influenza A Wastewater Dashboard Amid Rising H5N1 Cases in Dairy Herds
Source: The DairyNews
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today introduced a new influenza A wastewater tracking dashboard, enhancing its surveillance efforts for H5N1 avian influenza as three states report additional cases in dairy herds.
With the potential for asymptomatic spread of H5N1 in dairy cows and inconsistencies in herd testing and reporting, virologists and public health officials are exploring alternative methods, including wastewater testing, to better understand the spread of H5N1.
The CDC's new influenza A wastewater dashboard, now available on its H5N1 monitoring page, utilizes data from the National Wastewater Surveillance System, which covers over 600 sites. While the system doesn't currently distinguish influenza A subtypes or pinpoint virus sources—which could include humans, animals, or contaminated products like milk—the interactive map provides a comparative view of current influenza A levels against the 2023-2024 season.
In the past two weeks, data from 230 sites across 34 states met reporting criteria, with three sites—Saline County, Kansas; Pinellas County, Florida; and Kane County, Illinois—showing high levels of influenza A. The CDC collaborates with state and local partners to investigate these high levels further.
Marc Johnson, PhD, a virologist at the University of Missouri who has developed a probe for detecting H5 in wastewater, praised the CDC's dashboard, emphasizing the importance of targeted testing for suspiciously high samples. Brian Wasik, PhD, a molecular biologist at Cornell University's Baker Institute for Animal Health, highlighted that the dashboard would help establish baselines and identify trends and targets for further exploration.
In related news, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported four additional H5N1 detections in dairy herds, bringing the total to 46. The new cases were found in Michigan (two herds), Texas, and Idaho. Additionally, APHIS identified three more H5N1 cases in wild birds, with detections in Michigan's Ionia County and Idaho's Cassia County involving a rock dove and a black-billed magpie, respectively. A red-tailed hawk found dead in New York's Dutchess County also tested positive. All cases involve the Eurasian H5N1 subtype.
The CDC's new influenza A wastewater dashboard, now available on its H5N1 monitoring page, utilizes data from the National Wastewater Surveillance System, which covers over 600 sites. While the system doesn't currently distinguish influenza A subtypes or pinpoint virus sources—which could include humans, animals, or contaminated products like milk—the interactive map provides a comparative view of current influenza A levels against the 2023-2024 season.
In the past two weeks, data from 230 sites across 34 states met reporting criteria, with three sites—Saline County, Kansas; Pinellas County, Florida; and Kane County, Illinois—showing high levels of influenza A. The CDC collaborates with state and local partners to investigate these high levels further.
Marc Johnson, PhD, a virologist at the University of Missouri who has developed a probe for detecting H5 in wastewater, praised the CDC's dashboard, emphasizing the importance of targeted testing for suspiciously high samples. Brian Wasik, PhD, a molecular biologist at Cornell University's Baker Institute for Animal Health, highlighted that the dashboard would help establish baselines and identify trends and targets for further exploration.
In related news, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reported four additional H5N1 detections in dairy herds, bringing the total to 46. The new cases were found in Michigan (two herds), Texas, and Idaho. Additionally, APHIS identified three more H5N1 cases in wild birds, with detections in Michigan's Ionia County and Idaho's Cassia County involving a rock dove and a black-billed magpie, respectively. A red-tailed hawk found dead in New York's Dutchess County also tested positive. All cases involve the Eurasian H5N1 subtype.
