Bird Flu Outbreak Infected Cattle in Six US States

Dairy Cows Diagnosed with H5N1

Concern Grows as Avian Flu Spreads

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed that bird flu has infected cattle in six US states, raising concerns among scientists about the potential implications for the spread of the virus.

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which has been confirmed in dairy cows across New Mexico, Colorado, California, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas, has killed hundreds of millions of birds since the start of the outbreak in 2022. The virus has been particularly devastating in Iowa, where almost 23 million birds have been culled.

While the risk of bird flu transmission to humans is currently considered low, experts warn that the spillover into cattle could potentially have serious consequences. Scientists are concerned that the virus could mutate and become capable of more efficient transmission among humans.