What the CDC is doing to watch and defend in opposition to chook flu : NPR

On Monday, an individual in Texas examined constructive for chook flu — often known as the extremely pathogenic avian influenza — after coming involved with dairy cattle presumed to be contaminated.

The virus, which is very contagious amongst wild birds and poultry, has now unfold to dairy farms, based on the U.S. Division of Agriculture.

Not solely is that this the primary time that chook flu has been present in dairy cattle, based on the American Veterinary Medical Affiliation, however that is additionally solely the second time a human has contracted the virus within the U.S.

Authorities and well being officers say that the danger to the general public stays low, since there have been no recorded situations within the U.S. of human-to-human transmission of avian flu.

All Issues Thought of host Ari Shapiro spoke to Dr. Mandy Cohen, the director of the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, in regards to the potential dangers and the federal government’s response.

This interview has been evenly edited for size and readability.

Interview highlights

Ari Shapiro: The CDC says the danger to people from the H5N1 flu that’s driving this outbreak is low. Proper now, it seems that the 2 circumstances in people have been from contact with sick animals. Do you might have any motive to imagine that people may go this on to one another?

Mandy Cohen: So now we have by no means seen a case of human-to-human unfold of avian flu right here in america. And the model of avian flu that we’re seeing in cattle, and on this one human case, is identical pressure [H5N1] that now we have seen beforehand in birds. We have by no means seen that unfold human to human. That every one being mentioned, [what] we have realized by means of COVID in our expertise is: viruses change, and we have to keep forward of it. That is why we at CDC and the entire of U.S. authorities is taking this very critically and monitoring the state of affairs very carefully.

Shapiro: You say we have to keep forward of it. Inform us what that includes, what are the steps you are taking?

Cohen: One is clearly working very carefully to ensure we’re understanding the extent of the unfold, what number of cattle and farm[s] are concerned, after which clearly searching for any people which are involved with cattle or sick birds, and testing people which have signs, and ensuring that we’re understanding if it has unfold to other people. Thus far, there’s solely been one case in Texas. The particular person had very delicate signs. They’re recovering properly. However we wish to be certain, once more, that we’re testing people who might have been involved.

Shapiro: You mentioned widespread testing is essential – is there a danger that circumstances are going to go underneath the radar as a result of individuals are afraid to report? Whether or not it is farm homeowners who don’t need their operation to be shut down or farm employees who may not have well being protection.

Cohen: We’re working carefully with our state and native companions, our companions by means of agriculture and the U.S. Division of Agriculture and farm employees. Once more, we wish to get forward of this. So we’re attempting to speak people by means of it and construct belief, and people have actually been receptive. We have been significantly working with a variety of the veterinarians which are a part of the farms which have been impacted. Thus far, all working properly collectively.

Shapiro: Cows weren’t considered a species at excessive danger, and so if the virus is now spreading in cows, what are the probabilities that it may mutate to turn out to be a danger to people?

Cohen: Properly, it’s true – that is the primary time we have seen avian flu, or “chook flu,” in cattle. And, as you realize, cows are mammals, so it is a new reservoir or a bunch of animals that we’re seeing this virus in. And that simply means extra alternative for this virus to mutate and alter. And that is what we wish to be certain we’re persevering with to remain forward of.

Shapiro: Monitoring whether or not it continues to unfold and evolve is one factor – making ready for the chance that it would is one other. In a New York Instances opinion piece, columnist Zeynep Tufekci mentioned the federal government must gear as much as probably mass produce vaccines rapidly. Do you agree with that?

Cohen: Properly, the excellent news is america has been making ready for avian flu outbreaks for greater than 20 years. We have invested in our skill to check for this, to forestall it and to deal with it. And we all know that the pressure we’re seeing proper now is identical pressure now we have seen earlier than. And we imagine from all of our laboratory testing that our take a look at will choose this up. Our remedy, which is Tamiflu, which now we have each doses in stockpile and across the nation, works. And we even have vaccine candidates which are able to go. So it is very totally different than what we skilled, for instance, originally of COVID, once we’re seeing a model new novel virus the place we did not have exams, we did not have remedy and we did not have vaccine.

Shapiro: However simply particularly, if it does take time to mass produce vaccines, is that one thing the U.S. ought to be doing in earnest proper now on the possibility that the virus evolves?

Cohen: We have now by no means seen a transmission from a human-to-human. That’s one thing we’re anticipating very carefully. And so there could also be set off factors the place we’d transfer to interested by scaling up vaccine. However bear in mind, there’s at all times a tradeoff there – if we transfer to manufacturing one sort of vaccine, it could be on the expense of having the ability to manufacture that vaccine for the seasonal flu. Once more, one thing that additionally impacts us. So, now we have the power to scale up if we have to. And once more, we have already began down that course of and we’ll hold monitoring to see if we have to set off and do this.

Shapiro: The circumstances up to now have all been in dairy cows. Ought to folks be involved about consuming milk and different dairy merchandise?

Cohen: [The] FDA has indicated that our milk provide is protected due to the pasteurization course of. Unpasteurized and uncooked milk stays a danger, however the overwhelming majority of our milk provide is protected due to pasteurization.