A recent variant of H5N1 bird flu has been detected in dairy cows in Nevada and Arizona, leading to new concerns about the virus's transmission. Experts warn that the virus's presence in herds signifies that it is now endemic among cows, stating that without intervention, containment is unlikely. This outbreak coincides with a severe flu season, complicating detection efforts and increasing the risk of dangerous new variants emerging through reassortment. The CDC's vaccination campaigns have also been hindered amid ongoing organizational changes, raising further alarm among health officials.
"It's endemic in cows now. There is no way this is going to get contained on its own," said Seema Lakdawala, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention.
"The current outbreak is unlikely to end without intervention and needs close attention from the Trump administration to prevent the virus from wreaking more havoc," noted Boghuma Titanji.
"There's a lot of flu going around, and so the potential for the virus to reassort right now is high," Lakdawala warned, highlighting the increased risk due to seasonal flu cases.
"The spike in seasonal flu cases puts pressure on health systems and makes it harder to detect rare variants like H5N1," explained Titanji as he outlined the challenges ahead.
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