US officials detect second bird flu strain in dairy cattle
Feb 06, 2025
Scientists have found a new type of bird flu in dairy cows in Nevada. This is different from the bird flu that has been spreading in cow herds in the US. It shows that the virus has passed from wild birds to cows at least twice. Experts are worried about how the virus could spread and how hard it is to stop it in animals and people who work closely with them.
One expert, Richard Webby, said he thought birds passing the virus to cows was rare. But now it seems like it might happen more often. The new type of bird flu, called D11, was found in Nevada cows. It was discovered in milk collected to check for the virus. This shows the importance of testing for viruses.
Experts say sharing information about the virus quickly is important. This can help us understand if the virus has been around for a long time or if it's new. They want to learn more about the virus to prevent it from spreading and making people sick.
It's important to keep an eye on the virus and understand how it spreads. This will help keep people and animals healthy and safe from getting sick. Scientists are working hard to learn more about the virus and how to stop it from causing big problems. It's like a puzzle that they need to figure out to keep everyone safe.