A global outbreak of H5N1 bird flu that started in 2020 has recently spread among cattle in U.S. states and marine mammals across the world. Health officials are closely monitoring the situation, and experts are concerned that the virus could mutate and eventually spread to humans, where it has proven rare but deadly. The World Health Organization’s Global Influenza Programme has warned that there is a risk for cows in other countries to be infected with the bird flu virus, as it is commonly spread through the movement of migratory birds.
The Food and Drug Administration has confirmed that dairy products are safe to consume, as no live traces of the bird flu virus were found in tested grocery store samples of products like infant formula, toddler milk, sour cream, and cottage cheese. However, some dead remnants of the virus were found in some of the food, though none were found in the baby products. The Department of Agriculture has announced that they will begin testing ground beef samples from grocery stores in states with cow outbreaks to determine if it is safe to eat.
The USDA has warned against cow-to-cow transmission of the virus, which may be occurring due to cows coming into contact with raw milk. They have also advised against humans and other animals, including pets, consuming unpasteurized milk to prevent potential infection. The threat of bird flu spreading between humans is a significant concern, as the virus has evolved and has increasingly been infecting mammals on land and sea, which means it could potentially spread to humans.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported the second U.S. human case of bird flu in a Texas dairy farmer who became infected after contracting the virus from infected dairy cows. Despite this, the person was already recovering. Bird flu does not transmit easily from person to person, but it is very deadly. Between January 2003 and March 28, 2024, there have been 888 human cases of bird flu infection, with 463 resulting in death. The CDC advises against eating raw meat or eggs infected with bird flu, but properly cooked meat and eggs are considered safe to consume.
The recent outbreaks of bird flu have led to a decrease in egg production, resulting in increased egg prices in the U.S. A dozen large, grade A eggs cost around $2.99 in March, up from previous prices. The increased number of mammal infections since 2022 has raised concerns that the virus may be looking for new hosts and moving closer to humans. Wild migratory birds are believed to be the original source of the outbreaks, with experts worried that the virus could mutate and spread more easily in humans. The USDA has paid over $1 billion in compensation to farmers for birds and eggs killed due to bird flu since 2022.
There are vaccines approved for bird flu in humans, but it is not enough to vaccinate the entire U.S. population in case of an outbreak. The government plans to mass-produce vaccines in the event of a human outbreak, as it can take at least six months to produce enough for the entire population. The USDA has begun trials on H5N1 animal-specific vaccines. Bird flu has devastated bird populations globally, with 67 countries reporting the deaths of 131 million poultry in 2022 alone. The virus has also spread to other animals, with at least 10 countries reporting outbreaks in mammals since 2022.
