In Texas, a dairy farm worker contracted bird flu from a cow, marking a rare mammal-to-human transmission, raising questions about the disease's evolving threat.
Benji Jones and Kenny Torrella report for Vox.
In short:
- Bird flu, traditionally affecting birds, has recently infected mammals, including a human in Texas, through cattle.
- The incident underscores the adaptability of avian influenza and its potential risk to public health, despite the infected individual experiencing only mild symptoms.
- Scientists are concerned about the virus's ability to mutate and potentially become more dangerous to humans.
Key quote:
"As long as the virus continues to replicate in mammals, it may make it a higher concern for humans. That’s why it’s so important to conduct surveillance and provide early warning."
— Marcela Uhart, wildlife veterinarian with the University of California Davis School of Veterinary Medicine
Why this matters:
Bird flu’s leap from birds to humans and other species is a concern for public health officials worldwide due to the potential for the virus to mutate and become more easily transmissible among humans.
Related: Migratory birds are moving Lyme disease to new places and peoples.
