Scientists warn those living in big cities, especially those with pets, about the highly contagious H5N1 avian influenza. Meanwhile, the United States still suffers significantly from the bird flu outbreak.
Urban Bird Flu Surveillance Reveals Alarming Results
A community science program called the New York City Virus Hunters (NYCVH) Program has released findings showing that this hazardous strain of avian flu has infected a limited number of birds that have flown over New York City in recent years. The study was published in the respected Journal of Virology.
Along with samples from animal rehabilitation facilities, volunteers gathered 1,927 samples of bird droppings from various urban parks and green areas throughout the city between 2022 and 2023. Remarkably, samples of six different species of birds-including a chicken, a peregrine falcon, a red-tailed hawk, and Canada geese-tested positive.
"While the presence of bird flu in New York City poses a low risk to humans and pets, it's not a zero-risk situation," emphasizes Christine Marizzi, a microbiologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. "It's wise to remain alert and avoid close contact with wildlife, including ensuring pets stay away from such encounters."
Because many wild birds migrate through New York City, there is an increased risk because of the close encounters with the city's dense human and pet population, which results in an enormous urban animal-human interface.
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Threat of Zoonotic Transmission
A recent event in Texas highlighted the possibility of mammal-to-human transmission. A farm worker became ill after perhaps catching the virus from a sick cow. No human cases have been linked to discovering the avian flu in New York.
Since the outbreak started in 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has only documented a few human cases worldwide; the Texas case is an exception. WHO authorities are nevertheless keeping a tight eye on the situation because of the virus's high human death rate.
The avian flu outbreak has affected a diverse array of wildlife in the United States, including foxes, raccoons, household pets, and migrating birds. A dairy farm experienced the death of twelve cats earlier this year after they drank cow milk tainted with avian flu.
Marizzi notes that birds are crucial for detecting avian viruses circulating in urban settings, especially those that can potentially spread to humans. She emphasizes how significant community involvement is to boosting surveillance efforts and comprehending the risks associated with these infections.
As the threat of avian influenza grows, residents are asked to report any strange bird behavior or avian mortality to local authorities. By being watchful and taking the appropriate safety measures, we can lessen the hazards of this worldwide zoonotic animal pandemic.
Pet owners are urged not to bring their adored animals into contact with wildlife and to seek treatment from a veterinarian immediately if they show any signs of illness. In addition, it is suggested that the owners must observe good hygiene, particularly handwashing, after touching the pet or visiting areas of high-risk transmission. By adopting these preventative measures, pet owners can reduce the danger of avian influenza and other zoonotic infections for themselves and their animals.
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