United States: In a matter of weeks, a duo of vaccines stand poised for dispatch if the avian influenza, detected circulating among cattle in nine states, transitions to human hosts, according to assertions from US health authorities.
Although there is no indication of H5N1 spreading interpersonally, a lone dairy laborer in Texas did contract the virus subsequent to close interaction with cows.
During a briefing held on Wednesday, health officials underscored their readiness for the potential transmission of avian flu among humans.
With at least 46 herds of dairy cows across nine states affected, concerns arise over the likelihood of viral mutation and its leap to humans, as per NBC News.
Demetre Daskalakis, head of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, indicated during the briefing that research “implies the vaccines will furnish commendable cross-defense against bovine epidemic strains,” as reported by The Independent.
Dawn O’Connell, the assistant secretary for preparedness at the Department of Health and Human Services, informed NBC News of the existence of hundreds of thousands of preloaded vaccine syringes, poised for dispatch in the event of a transmission episode.
“We’ve been amassing an arsenal of antigens for swift deployment should a highly contagious strain of flu emerge,” she remarked.
Officials reiterated during the briefing that current indications do not suggest the virus mutating in a manner conducive to interspecies transmission.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presently surveil over 100 individuals, primarily those engaged in livestock farming, for potential signs of infection.
Ms. O’Connell mentioned that should the vaccines be required, individuals would probably necessitate two doses for adequate immunity.
The quantity of doses dispatched in such an eventuality would hinge on the severity of a hypothetical outbreak, officials elucidated, according to The Independent.
Both vaccines, along with a third MRNA vaccine under development, would necessitate approval from the US Food and Drug Administration prior to distribution.
Federal authorities have initiated examinations of both bovine milk and meat for traces of avian flu.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that pasteurization obliterates the avian flu if it infiltrates a cow’s milk.
The USDA is also vigilant, subjecting beef samples to PCR tests to ascertain the presence of viral particles.
Sarah Little, spokesperson for the Meat Institute – a consortium representing meat processing enterprises – remarked: “The USDA’s additional testing is prudent to safeguard public health and curb the spread of animal infections.”
The ramifications of the USDA’s vigilance are already evident; lactating dairy cows are mandated to test negative for avian flu prior to interstate relocation.
Dairy cows designated for slaughter are typically segregated. According to the USDA, all animals undergo inspection prior to slaughter, and all bovine carcasses must pass inspection before processing into consumables.
Such was the case last week when the USDA detected traces of avian flu in the lung tissue of an asymptomatic dairy cow en route to slaughter. Subsequent to the viral discovery, the animal was deemed unfit for consumption.
In the interim, the USDA is experimenting with various cooking durations using a “virus proxy” to ascertain the temperature at which cooking would neutralize avian flu in meat.
The CDC recommends cooking ground beef to a minimum temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit to eradicate potential bacterial contaminants.