Catching up with (but hopefully not catching) bird flu

It’s a big worry.

From the Cleveland Clinic: Bird flu (avian influenza)

Bird flu (avian influenza) is an infection from a type of influenza (flu) virus that usually spreads in birds and other animals. Sometimes, humans can get bird flu from infected animals. Like the versions of flu that people usually get, bird flu can make you severely ill.

It has infected  and, in the case of dairy herds and poultry flocks, mass culling:

• Wild birds
• Domestic Chickens
• Domestic Turkeys
• Domestic Ducks
• Dairy cattle
• Raw milk
• Wild and captive mammals
• Pet dogs and cats
• People

What is the government doing?

• USDA Announces New Federal Order, Begins National Milk Testing Strategy to Address H5N1 in Dairy Herds
• FDA: Investigation of Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus in Dairy Cattle
• USDA: Detections of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
• CDC: H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation

The CDC says: “The best way to prevent H5N1 bird flu is to avoid sources of exposure whenever possible.”  Thanks a lot.

From the New England Journal of Medicine

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus Infections in Humans
• The Emerging Threat of H5N1 to Human Health

Comment: For producers of dairy and poultry, H5N1 is already a disaster.  “Only” about 66 people have been infected and human-to-human transmission does not seem to be occurring—yet?  If ever a potential epidemic needed a coordinated response, here is a truly alarming example.

As for its effects on the food system?  Higher prices, for sure: Egg Prices Are High. They Will Likely Go Higher.