US detects H5N1 bird flu in swine for the first time

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-detects-h5n1-bird-flu-swine-first-time-2024-10-30/

by amichail • 2 years ago

32 12 2 years ago

Sunspark2• 2 years ago

This means the virus has now mutated enough that it was able to jump from cow or another source to pig which is not good news. Pigs are mixing chambers for this sort of thing where flus become fitter for human hosts.

This one is going to do damage if it becomes more fit. It is almost 100% lethal to ferrets due to central nervous system issues. Ferrets like mink have similar respiratory systems to humans.

We are not ferrets, but if it starts spreading it would be wise to not automatically assume that it can just be ignored. Most people already have damaged immune systems due to SARS2 and you've all heard of the idiom of the straw and the camel's back.

AnimalMuppet• 2 years ago

Most people already have damaged immune systems due to SARS2

Can you support that statement?

Sunspark2• 2 years ago

Yes, t-cell depletion which has resulted in a rise in the rates of other diseases showing up that were lower or under control before.

The UK government publishes data with counts of various things that you can make graphs from.

rapjr9• 2 years ago

One of the studies is mentioned here, there have been others as well:

https://time.com/6265510/covid-19-weaken-immune-system/

snovymgodym• 2 years ago

Most people already have damaged immune systems due to SARS2

How do you figure?

wumeow• 2 years ago

The article mentions 36 people have already gotten it and their symptoms were mild.

veb• 2 years ago

There's been a bigger outbreak in Washington it seems - https://nitter.poast.org/richardhirschs1/status/185164171224...

dopylitty• 2 years ago

While that’s true it’s good to be vigilant.

Viruses are constantly evolving and flu can also exchange parts of its genome with other flu strains (reassortment).

It may become more (or less) virulent by chance while evolving more fitness for human bodies so past results don’t guarantee future results.

US detects H5N1 bird flu in swine for the first time

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