H5N1 bird flu continues to spread in the US and Canada

Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 continues to spread in the US and Canada, where a teenager remains in critical condition. California reported one new human case yesterday, bringing the state’s total case count to 37 in the state and 56 in the United States. As for dairy farms, there are already 335 of them in this state, which has already affected 30% of farms of this type. Nationwide, 549 herds in 15 states have been declared infected.

As for Canada, the North American country’s Food Inspection Agency just yesterday announced 59 outbreaks at poultry plants.

In Canada, a case of a critically ill person continues to be investigated: a teenager with no previous pathologies whose virus has mutations associated with transmission of this avian pathogen to humans. Samples were taken from his contacts and pets with whom he interacted, including the family dog, which was sick and had to be put down. At the moment, all tests are negative.

On the other hand, a study in ferrets shows that intramammary infection with the H5N1 virus present in dairy cows causes 100% mortality in mother ferrets and their suckling offspring. The type of cellular receptor that the virus requires to infect cells is present in both ferret and human mammary glands, suggesting that this virus could potentially be transmitted from infected dairy cows to nursing mothers and their young through milk.