
Inadequate bird flu testing is making pandemic experts concerned we're "flying blind" with H5N1
SalonAfter public health officials confirmed H5N1, the virus also known as bird flu, jumped from poultry to cows and recently infected an American, they’ve warned that if the virus strain made its way to pigs, it could be a time to press the panic button. This specific trait might allow the virus to sp “The biggest question is whether cows are mixing vessels like pigs; pigs are well-known mixing vessels for influenza because they have both avian and human receptors and that allows a virus to mutate pretty easily and to make it more susceptible to humans,” Katelyn Jetelina, an epidemiologist and author of the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist, told Salon. “So it really opens up more questions and answers at this point.” Dr. Rajendram Rajnarayanan of the New York Institute of Technology campus in Jonesboro, Ark., told Salon this preliminary report “changes things a lot.” “That means that if you let the virus collect in cows a lot, then soon you’re going to see an adaptation that's going to pick it up in humans and other mammals,” he said. “And I think all we can do is try to explain why we want them to be tested, protect them with incentives for example, paid time-off would be great.” But as it stands, Jetelina said “we’re flying blind.” Rajnarayanan said at the moment, he’s at his “highest level of concern.” “We are running blind, we don't really have a lot of data,” he said.
History of this topic

World's first case of H5N1 bird flu found in UK sheep, sparking Australian biosecurity warning
ABC
UK detects first H5N1 bird flu case in sheep, raising livestock spread fears
Firstpost
Government on high alert as deadly bird flu jumps species AGAIN - after first human death in US
Daily Mail
RFK Jr. Says Maybe We Should Just Let The Bird Flu Run Rampant
Huff Post
'Stone age thinking': Dem lawmaker says Trump admin's new policies 'will kill Americans'
Raw Story
If bird flu jumps to humans, immunity from seasonal flu may offer some protection
NPR
How to Protect Your Cats (and Backyard Chickens) From Bird Flu
Wired
Bird flu alert in US: H7N9 strain detected in poultry farm for first time since 2017
Live Mint
Solapur On High Alert After Crow Deaths Confirm Bird Flu
ABP News
Netherlands starts trial with vaccinating poultry against bird flu
NL Times
Bird flu cases in 9 states, poultry farms' inspection ordered
India Today
MP town reports India's first cases of H5N1 flu in domestic cats, owners not infected
Hindustan Times
Egg shortages to continue as bird flu leads to loss of 10 per cent of Australian laying hens
ABC
Killing 166 million birds hasn’t helped poultry farmers stop H5N1. Is there a better way?
LA Times
Avian influenza: Amid rising concerns across India, doctors decode outbreak, explain how to consume poultry safely
The Hindu
2 people hospitalised with bird flu in Wyoming and Ohio, potential emergence of deadlier virus sparks fear
Hindustan Times
US bird flu outbreak concerns continue as health agencies face cuts and information delays
ABC
We're Infectious Disease Experts. Here's How Soon Bird Flu Could Cause A Pandemic.
Huff Post
H5N1 bird flu found in four Southern California rats
LA Times
New study warns hundreds could be infected with H5N1 bird flu without symptoms: Are you at risk?
Hindustan Times
Bird flu detected at third poultry farm at Euroa in Victoria's north
ABC
Trump administration scrambles to rehire 'accidentally' fired bird flu experts: report
Raw Story
First cows, now cats. Is bird flu coming for humans next?
Live Mint
Woman hospitalized in Wyoming with H5N1 bird blu
LA Times
Bird Flu Spreads: Wyoming reports first human infection
India Today
Vet experts inspect poultry farms to know why H5N1 broke out
Deccan Chronicle
Experts Warn of Bird Flu Spreading to Humans
Deccan Chronicle
Some people didn’t know they had a bird flu infection, study of veterinarians suggests
Associated Press
After delay, CDC releases data signaling bird flu spread undetected in cows and people
NPR
Bird flu infections in dairy cows are more widespread than we thought, according to a new CDC study
LA Times
Bird flu infections went undetected in veterinarians, CDC study shows
CNN
Bird flu is continuing to impact U.S. consumers. But, these states aren’t testing for the virus
The Independent
New Victorian bird flu outbreak
ABC
New strain of bird flu is detected in a Nevada dairy worker, CDC says
Associated Press
New H5N1 bird flu variant found in Nevada dairy worker as new data shows changes in virus
LA Times
Victorian chicken farm in quarantine after highly pathogenic strain of bird flu detected
ABC
Another bird flu outbreak at a poultry farm in Australia - just days after government announced the disease had been eradicated
Daily Mail
Egg farmers warn they’re losing battle against bird flu
Raw Story
Your questions about bird flu answered by experts
Salon
It's like 'dead birds flying': How bird flu is spreading in the wild
NPR
Live poultry markets ordered shut in New York City due to bird flu outbreak
LA Times
Second type of bird flu detected in US dairy cows
Associated Press
Second form of bird flu already linked to death of Louisiana senior now detected in dairy cattle
The Independent
A new type of bird flu has been found in dairy cows in Nevada
NPR
Deadly version of H5N1 bird flu spills over into Nevada dairy cattle
LA Times
New bird flu infections in Nevada dairy cattle signal the virus may be here to stay
CNN
Experts are anxious that bird flu could become airborne — and jump-start another pandemic
The Independent
Ex-Trump surgeon general sounds alarm on president’s actions amid disease outbreaks
Raw Story
Trump administration’s communication freeze restricted access to critical bird flu information
Salon
Nation’s second-largest egg producer hit by bird flu as virus spreads across the US
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