The USDA verified that cases of avian flu in mammals had been recorded from Washington, Kentucky, and Montana this year. The H5N1 bird flu, which is also affecting marine creatures, is a threat that US officials have alerted residents about.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) verified in a release that cases of avian flu in mammals had been documented this year in Washington, Kentucky, and Montana. Washington and Montana discovered the virus in three striped skunks and a mountain lion, respectively, while Kentucky found it in a raccoon. According to the report, the virus can cause illness, including serious conditions and in rare cases, even death.
The virus has been prevalent in wild birds for many years, especially in poultry; in 48 states, over 82 million animals have been afflicted.
Even though there is still little risk of infection, many are concerned about getting the virus now that it has spread to mammals.
Dr. Chris Walzer, of the Wildlife Conservation Society, told the sources that he believed it to be highly likely. One of the biggest risks to wildlife in the world is the avian influenza outbreak. We are eager for it to affect human populations.
Better disease monitoring, he argued, is necessary to protect people from the virus that is acquiring “new traits that could create a problem for us humans.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised people who work on chicken farms to adopt protective measures since they may be more susceptible to avian flu.
In Chile, Peru, and Argentina, H5N1 has killed over 50,000 livestock and over 65,000 wild birds since 2022. After the virus spread, egg prices in the US hit all-time highs and the poultry industry in California took a serious blow.
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