United States: Freddy Morales, a dairy farm worker who has spent over a decade in close contact with cattle, recently learned about the bird flu virus affecting US cattle and dairy workers. Despite his extensive experience in the industry, Morales had not been aware of the virus until recently.
“I don’t have the immune system I used to have,” the 37-year-old expressed through a Spanish translator. “Hearing about this, it’s definitely worrisome.
The disease has found a new foothold in the US by infecting dairy cows and at least 10 people in last few months.
Recent Outbreak and Rising Cases
Since April, four dairy workers have tested positive for the bird flu, in an outbreak that has been connected to dairy herds in the 13 states. Last week the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that another six poultry workers in Colorado tested positive and the agency is testing a possible seventh case on Tuesday.
Concerns Over Virus Spread
US officials have said the strain that infected the poultry workers is closely related to the one infecting cattle and dairy workers, raising concerns about a growing number of infections.
So far, the farm workers’ cases have been fairly mild and there have been no documented instances of human-to-human transmission.
As reported by BBC the scientists, advocates and the farm workers worry that the recent cases could indicate that infection numbers are larger than known among the country’s 2.6 million farm workers as this particular virus has been detected in 161 livestock herds and the millions of the chickens turkeys despite testing not always being extensive.
With the United States current Patchwork monitoring the effort that differs state to state and experts said the virus could have opportunities to mutate into the more serious disease because in some areas of the country that have limited testing and that would not be aware of its presence.
Worries About Inadequate Monitoring
But the scientists, advocates and farm workers worry that the recent cases could indicate that infection numbers are larger than the known among the country’s 2.6 million farm workers as the virus has been detected in 161 livestock herds and the millions of the chickens and the turkeys despite testing not always being this extensive.
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