UK Cattle Remain Untested Amidst US Bird Flu Outbreak
Source: The DairyNews
Amidst a sweeping outbreak of bird flu in American dairy herds, UK cattle are not undergoing testing for the virus, Sky News has learned.
Despite reports of the H5N1 virus circulating in US birds and poultry, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) asserts that the current incidence of the virus in UK birds and poultry is sufficiently low to negate the need for testing among cattle.
However, scientists warn that the virus has been quietly spreading among US dairy herds for months, with cases of transmission between cows documented by the US Department of Agriculture. Such inter-mammal transmission raises alarms among virologists, who monitor such occurrences as potential precursors to pandemics.
While DEFRA states that the UK's risk level remains unchanged, they confirm active monitoring of the US situation and collaboration with international partners to comprehend the outbreak's origins and spread.
The outbreak, which has affected 33 herds across eight US states, has also seen transmission to a farm worker and other animals, including cats and raccoons.
Dr. Thomas Peacock fr om the UK Pirbright Institute underscores the concern over sustained mammal-to-mammal transmission, particularly in dairy herds wh ere the virus may be present in milk, posing risks during the milking process.
The means of virus transmission remain unclear, with possibilities including contaminated feed or access by infected wild birds to confined dairy herds. The US Department of Agriculture has detected virus fragments in pasteurized milk, although they maintain its safety.
Despite reassurances, concerns persist over potential food safety risks, especially through the ingestion of raw milk from affected farms.
In response to the outbreak, the US Department of Agriculture has implemented new regulations, requiring lactating cattle to test negative before interstate movement.
While H5N1 has adapted to survive in cattle cells, its primary suitability for avian hosts maintains the human risk at a low level, according to Dr. Mandy Cohen from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonetheless, the emergence of the virus in cattle underscores the importance of continued vigilance and preparedness efforts.
However, scientists warn that the virus has been quietly spreading among US dairy herds for months, with cases of transmission between cows documented by the US Department of Agriculture. Such inter-mammal transmission raises alarms among virologists, who monitor such occurrences as potential precursors to pandemics.
While DEFRA states that the UK's risk level remains unchanged, they confirm active monitoring of the US situation and collaboration with international partners to comprehend the outbreak's origins and spread.
The outbreak, which has affected 33 herds across eight US states, has also seen transmission to a farm worker and other animals, including cats and raccoons.
Dr. Thomas Peacock fr om the UK Pirbright Institute underscores the concern over sustained mammal-to-mammal transmission, particularly in dairy herds wh ere the virus may be present in milk, posing risks during the milking process.
The means of virus transmission remain unclear, with possibilities including contaminated feed or access by infected wild birds to confined dairy herds. The US Department of Agriculture has detected virus fragments in pasteurized milk, although they maintain its safety.
Despite reassurances, concerns persist over potential food safety risks, especially through the ingestion of raw milk from affected farms.
In response to the outbreak, the US Department of Agriculture has implemented new regulations, requiring lactating cattle to test negative before interstate movement.
While H5N1 has adapted to survive in cattle cells, its primary suitability for avian hosts maintains the human risk at a low level, according to Dr. Mandy Cohen from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nonetheless, the emergence of the virus in cattle underscores the importance of continued vigilance and preparedness efforts.
