The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that dairy cows in Nevada have been infected with a new form of bird flu, known as H5N1, distinct from the version that has been spreading through herds over the past year. The discovery of this virus spilling from birds into cows at least twice raises concerns about the virus posing a persistent risk to cows and those who work closely with them.
Scientists were surprised by the unexpected transmission of the virus from birds to cows in Texas last year and had believed it to be a rare event. The recent infection of cows in Nevada with a version of the virus known as D1.1, which has been spreading in wild birds and poultry, further highlights the risks associated with these viruses.
The D1.1 form of H5N1 has been shown to be dangerous to people, with one person in the U.S. and a 13-year-old Canadian girl becoming seriously ill from this version of the virus. The virus has displayed mutations that could potentially enhance its ability to infect people, although there have been no documented cases of human-to-human transmission.
While the spread of D1.1 to cows does not currently impact the average person, it poses risks for dairy workers and the dairy industry. The possibility of cows being infected with multiple forms of the virus raises concerns about the long-term effects and the potential for a lingering problem.
Since January 2022, H5N1 has impacted millions of commercial, backyard, and wild birds in the United States, leading to record egg prices and affecting various mammalian species. The continued spread of this virus across different animal populations underscores the need for vigilance and monitoring to prevent further transmission and potential outbreaks.
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