A person holds a test tube labelled “Bird Flu”, in this picture illustration, January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

US to spend $10 million to curb bird flu in farm workers

CDC plans vaccine push; says risk to general public remains low

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday it plans to spend $10 million to curb farm worker bird flu infections, including $5 million for seasonal flu vaccines, as part of its efforts to avoid further spread and mutation of the virus.

To date, 169 dairy herds have been affected by avian influenza in the U.S.  Photo: Thinkstock

Light shed on bird flu spread in mammals

Researchers from Cornell University have determined how cows infected with H5N1 bird flu were able to spread the virus to other cows and mammals. In the study published in the journal Nature on July 24, scientists used genomic data, computer modeling, and data about the virus’s spread to show how infected cows from Texas spread bird flu






 Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File

Explainer: How U.S. states are testing for bird flu

States in the U.S. are playing a key role in the nation's response to a growing outbreak of avian flu among dairy cattle that has also infected a small number of humans. The states are chiefly responsible for testing cows and people for the virus, but they take different approaches. Scientists tracking bird flu are increasingly concerned that current surveillance efforts are not sufficient.





(John Greig photo)

Colorado reports human case of bird flu

Dairy farm worker had mild symptoms and recovered after antiviral treatment

Public health officials in Colorado on Wednesday announced an adult man had tested positive for avian flu after reporting mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis, or pink eye.