Second bird flu strain found in US dairy cattle, agriculture agency says

U.S. dairy cattle tested affirmative for a strain of vertebrate flu that antecedently had not been seen successful cows, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said connected Wednesday, ramping up concerns astir the persistent dispersed of the virus.

The H5N1 microorganism has reduced beverage output successful cattle, pushed up ovum prices by wiping retired millions of hens, and infected astir 70 radical since April arsenic it has dispersed crossed the country.

Genome sequencing of beverage from Nevada identified the antithetic strain, known arsenic the D1.1 genotype, successful dairy cows for the archetypal time, the USDA said. Previously, each 957 vertebrate flu infections among dairy herds reported since past March had been caused by different strain, the B3.13 genotype, according to the agency.

Reuters reported quality of the detection of the 2nd strain connected Wednesday up of USDA's announcement.

The 2nd strain was the predominant genotype among chaotic birds this past autumn and wintertime and has besides been recovered successful poultry, the USDA said. It was identified successful dairy cattle done an bureau programme that began investigating beverage for vertebrate flu successful December.

"We're seeing the H5N1 microorganism itself beryllium smarter than each of us," said Beth Thompson, South Dakota's authorities veterinarian.

"It's modifying itself truthful it's not conscionable staying successful the poultry and the chaotic waterfowl. It's picking up a location successful the mammals."

Wild birds apt transmitted the 2nd strain to cattle successful Nevada, said J.J. Goicoechea, Nevada's agriculture director. Farmers request to ramp up information and information measures to support their animals, helium said.

"We evidently aren't doing everything we tin and everything we should oregon the microorganism wouldn't beryllium getting in," helium said.

The Nevada Department of Agriculture said connected Jan. 31 that herds successful 2 counties had been placed nether quarantine due to the fact that of vertebrate flu detections.

It is important for the USDA to incorporate the outbreak successful the authorities quickly, truthful the strain does not dispersed to dairy cattle elsewhere, said Gail Hansen, a veterinary and nationalist wellness consultant.

Last year, vertebrate flu dispersed crossed the state arsenic infected cattle were shipped from Texas aft the microorganism archetypal leapt to cows from chaotic birds.

"We didn't get a clasp connected it before," Hansen said. "We privation to debar that aforesaid script from happening successful Nevada."

Dairy herds that were formerly infected whitethorn beryllium astatine hazard again from the 2nd strain, experts said.

"Now it looks similar we person caller strains of microorganism that whitethorn flight immoderate of the immunity associated with the different strains of viruses that could exacerbate the epidemics among animals and wildlife," said Gregory Gray, a University of Texas Medical Branch prof studying cattle diseases.

"It's alarming."