Bird Flu Detected in Horses Without Symptoms
Silent Spread: Horses May Harbor Bird Flu without Showing symptoms
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New research has raised concerns that horses could be silently spreading bird flu, potentially increasing the risk of the virus jumping to humans.
Scientists at the University of Glasgow discovered antibodies for the H5N1 bird flu virus in blood samples taken from horses in Mongolia. This finding,published in the Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases,suggests that horses can be infected with bird flu without displaying any symptoms.
“It’s vrey crucial, now we know these infections can occur in nature, that we monitor them to detect them very rapidly,” said Professor Pablo Murcia, who led the research.
A herd of horses, Alamy.The discovery has sparked fears that horses could act as a bridge for the virus, allowing it to spread undetected adn potentially evolve into more dangerous forms.
“Horses, like many other domesticated animals, live in close proximity to humans,” Professor Murcia explained. “If this virus was to establish in horses, the probability of human infection increases.”
The H5N1 virus has been circulating for decades, primarily affecting poultry. However, a new variant has emerged in recent years, spreading globally through migrating birds and infecting mammals.
Growing Concerns in the U.S.
in the United States,the Centers for Disease Control reports that 700 herds of cows in 15 states have been infected with bird flu. While 60 farm workers have also tested positive, their symptoms have been mild.
As a precaution, U.S. authorities are implementing new regulations to test raw milk for the virus.
The UK Health Security Agency maintains that the risk of bird flu affecting cows in Britain is low, and the overall risk to the public remains minimal.
However, in anticipation of a potential human outbreak, an order has been placed for 5 million doses of a vaccine targeting the H5 family of viruses.
The silent spread of bird flu in horses highlights the need for continued vigilance and monitoring to prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in new animal populations and potentially jumping to humans.
Silent Spread: Horses May Harbor Bird Flu Without showing Symptoms
New research has raised concerns that horses could be silently spreading bird flu, potentially increasing the risk of the virus jumping to humans.
Scientists at the University of Glasgow discovered antibodies for the H5N1 bird flu virus in blood samples taken from horses in Mongolia. This finding, published in the Journal of Emerging Infectious Diseases, suggests that horses can be infected with bird flu without displaying any symptoms.
“It’s very crucial, now we know these infections can occur in nature, that we monitor them to detect them very rapidly,” said Professor Pablo Murcia, who led the research.
The discovery has sparked fears that horses could act as a bridge for the virus, allowing it to spread undetected and potentially evolve into more dangerous forms.
“Horses,like many other domesticated animals,live in close proximity to humans,” Professor Murcia explained. “If this virus was to establish in horses, the probability of human infection increases.”
The H5N1 virus has been circulating for decades, primarily affecting poultry. However, a new variant has emerged in recent years, spreading globally through migrating birds and infecting mammals.
Growing Concerns in the U.S.
in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control reports that 700 herds of cows in 15 states have been infected with bird flu. While 60 farm workers have also tested positive, their symptoms have been mild.
As a precaution, U.S. authorities are implementing new regulations to test raw milk for the virus.
The UK Health Security Agency maintains that the risk of bird flu affecting cows in Britain is low, and the overall risk to the public remains minimal.
However,in anticipation of a potential human outbreak,an order has been placed for 5 million doses of a vaccine targeting the H5 family of viruses.
The silent spread of bird flu in horses highlights the need for continued vigilance and monitoring to prevent the virus from gaining a foothold in new animal populations and potentially jumping to humans.