A small sample of tests taken from Texas farm workers confirm that there are cases of the avian flu going undetected in humans.
The findings have resulted in proof that the virus may have already spread through unsuspecting communities. It’s unknown how much damage the bird flu could cause once proliferated in the American population.
What Is the Bird Flu?
The bird flu is a type of infection caused by a strain of the deadly avian influenza virus. There are several types of bird flu, but the one spreading throughout the world right now is known as the H5N1 virus.
Although it was initially found in wild bird populations, the disease has been mutating and spreading in recent months.
What Are the Symptoms of Bird Flu?
For both wild and domestic birds, the virus is deadly. Over the past few years, it has killed millions of wild birds with more domestic animals being culled as a result of outbreaks.
The symptoms in humans can present as a fever, problems breaking, pink eye, upset stomach and vomiting, loose stool and diarrhea. So far, no one in the United States has contracted a serious case.
How Did It Spread to Humans?
The spread of the avian flu has been on a mammalian path since it arrived in the United States. First being contracted by domestic chickens, ducks, and turkeys, it quickly spread to nearby dairy farms where the first cases of cow infections were reported.
After the virus made the jump from bird to mammal, it wasn’t long before dairy workers began contracting the illness. This type of path isn’t unheard of for a virus, a similar path was taken when the COVID-19 strain jumped from animal to human and caused a global pandemic.
Experts Worry About a Mass Outbreak
The findings add much needed evidence that proves that researchers were so concerned about when the flu was initially found in farm workers. The study was led by a team at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston who state that the US is failing to contain a potentially deadly pandemic.
The scientists visited two dairy farms in Texas that had already reported cases of the H5N1 outbreak.
Undetected Cases Found on Both Farms
Through random swabs of the staff at each farm, the researchers discovered undetected traces of the illness, even in people who have had the virus and then recovered.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that around 200,000 people work with livestock in the US. The team at the University of Texas fear that the spread could inundate the farm industry. As well, the cases could spread rapidly when carriers have no symptoms and aren’t aware that they are sick.
Infected Numbers So Far
To date, the virus has spread to roughly 175 dairy farms in three different states. Only about 14 human cases have been identified throughout these farms with the majority being identified on poultry farms.
However, the researchers suspect that a large amount of people working in these infected areas have been infected without knowing it. So far, Gregory Gary, one of the lead authors on the study, says that the surveillance has been poor and tracking is minimal without an official protocol in place.
Symtoms Occurring
Thankfully, all of the people who have been infected with the illness have experienced mild symptoms.
However, the way that a virus rapidly spreads is to multiply and become more harmful over time. It’s likely that if the virus isn’t contained quickly, the cases could become serious soon.
A New Pandemic
Experts fear that the rapid spread could result in further adaptation to spreading through large herds of people.
Officials involved in the case say that H5N1 could easily become a new pandemic. Nirav Shah, the CDC’s principal deputy director, announced on Tuesday that a $5 million effort to vaccinate farm workers will be put in place.
Bird Flu and the Seasonal Flu
Shah echoed similar concerns with the CDC that farm workers could become inundated with H5N1 and the seasonal flu at the same time. Before long, the illness could exchange genetic segments and become its own illness.
This mixture of two powerful viruses could give rise to an entirely new pandemic that may be even more difficult to contain.
Is a Bird Flu Vaccine Ready?
So far, the US does not have a bird-flu specific vaccine ready. Research and testing could take years to complete. Shah said that the use of a vaccine for farm workers isn’t in place just yet, but a different vaccine for the yearly flu could be used.
The severe lack of disease control and minimal documentation of human-to-human transmission could be a “strong and compelling case” to pour funding into vaccine research.
No Deaths Yet
Thankfully, none of the farm workers infected with the illness have died as a result from the infection. Hopefully this number can stay low.
As well, it has yet to be proven if the flu can be passed through people, or if it only passed from bovines to humans.
