Scientists have recently discovered a concerning outbreak of influenza virus in dairy cattle in Texas, which has the potential to become a pandemic. The virus has spread to hundreds of herds and has even jumped to humans in isolated cases, including a child in San Francisco and a teenager in British Columbia. Genetic sequencing suggests that the virus may have evolved to more efficiently infect human cells.
While there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission, the severity of the virus has increased in some cases, leading to acute respiratory distress syndrome in the teenager in Canada. The virus has also been found in raw milk on store shelves, raising concerns about its potential to spread further.
Experts warn that the outbreak is difficult to control, with the virus spreading through various means such as infected milk, animals, and humans. Without a new strategy and closer collaboration with the industry, controlling the outbreak may be challenging. There are already more than fifty known human infections in the U.S., with possibly more cases going undetected.
Scientists fear that the virus could reassort, leading to the development of a new version better adapted to humans. The possibility of reassortment occurring in pigs, known as mixing vessels for viruses, is also a concern. The current situation is reminiscent of the mistakes made during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the importance of screening and tracking the virus to prevent further spread.
Source
Photo credit www.mainepublic.org