How Serious Is Bird Flu Outbreak?
2024-12-31
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1California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu.
2It is affecting milk cows in that state and causing illnesses in some people in other U.S. states.
3The avian influenza virus, or bird flu, has spread among wild birds, farm birds and many mammal species.
4The virus is known as Type A H5N1.
5It was identified for the first time in U.S. milk cows in March.
6Since then, bird flu has been found in about one third of U.S. states.
7The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is following the number of cases and is reporting the latest details on its website.
8Most of the illnesses have been mild.
9Health officials said that one person in Louisiana was hospitalized with the nation's first known severe illness caused by the virus.
10California Governor Gavin Newsom said he declared the state of emergency so state workers could take faster action.
11California officials have been testing milk tanks.
12They said they have found the virus in hundreds of herds.
13The virus was recently found in Southern California dairy farms.
14It was found in the state's Central Valley in August.
15Officials with the CDC repeated that the public has a low risk of getting the virus.
16There are no reports of person-to-person infection and no signs that the virus has changed to spread easily among humans.
17Flu experts say it is too soon to know how the situation will change.
18But some experts are worried because flu viruses are mutating all the time and small genetic changes could take place.
19Health officials said the first known case of severe illness in the U.S. was found in a patient in Louisiana.
20The person is older than 65 and has other medical problems.
21Officials said the person showed severe breathing problems after being near a group of sick birds.
22The CDC said that the Louisiana case is the first confirmed U.S. infection connected with backyard birds, or birds kept near a home.
23Almost all the earlier infections in the U.S. have been in farmworkers dealing with infected dairy cattle or birds.
24In two cases - an adult in Missouri and a child in California - health officials have not learned how they became infected.
25Angela Rasmussen is a virus expert at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.
26She said as more people become infected, more severe illnesses will be reported.
27Rasmussen said, "I assume that every H5N1 virus has the potential to be very severe and deadly."
28The World Health Organization says on its website that from 2003 to November 2024 about 142 people died from the H5N1 virus around the world.
29Most of the deaths were in Southeast Asia.
30People who have contact with dairy cows, commercial poultry or with backyard birds are at higher risk than other people.
31CDC and other experts said those people should use breathing, eye, and hand protection, especially if the animals appear ill or if they die.
32The CDC said in July that it would buy $5 million in vaccines for farmworkers to protect against seasonal flu.
33If someone becomes infected with two flu types at the same time, it might permit the bird flu virus to mutate and to become more dangerous.
34The H5N1 virus can also be spread in raw, or unpasteurized, milk.
35The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says pasteurized milk is safe to drink because the heat treatment kills the virus.
36But high levels of the virus have been found in unpasteurized milk.
37Health officials urge people to avoid drinking raw milk.
38It can spread other germs in addition to bird flu.
39The U.S. Agriculture Department has increased its testing of raw milk across the country to identify and contain avian flu.
40Federal officials ordered milk testing which began this month in 13 states.
41I'm Anna Matteo.
1California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu. It is affecting milk cows in that state and causing illnesses in some people in other U.S. states. 2The avian influenza virus, or bird flu, has spread among wild birds, farm birds and many mammal species. 3The virus is known as Type A H5N1. It was identified for the first time in U.S. milk cows in March. Since then, bird flu has been found in about one third of U.S. states. 4The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is following the number of cases and is reporting the latest details on its website. Most of the illnesses have been mild. Health officials said that one person in Louisiana was hospitalized with the nation's first known severe illness caused by the virus. 5California Governor Gavin Newsom said he declared the state of emergency so state workers could take faster action. 6California officials have been testing milk tanks. They said they have found the virus in hundreds of herds. The virus was recently found in Southern California dairy farms. It was found in the state's Central Valley in August. 7What is the risk to the general public? 8Officials with the CDC repeated that the public has a low risk of getting the virus. There are no reports of person-to-person infection and no signs that the virus has changed to spread easily among humans. 9Flu experts say it is too soon to know how the situation will change. But some experts are worried because flu viruses are mutating all the time and small genetic changes could take place. 10Are cases becoming more serious? 11Health officials said the first known case of severe illness in the U.S. was found in a patient in Louisiana. The person is older than 65 and has other medical problems. Officials said the person showed severe breathing problems after being near a group of sick birds. The CDC said that the Louisiana case is the first confirmed U.S. infection connected with backyard birds, or birds kept near a home. 12Almost all the earlier infections in the U.S. have been in farmworkers dealing with infected dairy cattle or birds. In two cases - an adult in Missouri and a child in California - health officials have not learned how they became infected. 13Angela Rasmussen is a virus expert at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada. She said as more people become infected, more severe illnesses will be reported. Rasmussen said, "I assume that every H5N1 virus has the potential to be very severe and deadly." 14The World Health Organization says on its website that from 2003 to November 2024 about 142 people died from the H5N1 virus around the world. Most of the deaths were in Southeast Asia. 15How can people protect themselves? 16People who have contact with dairy cows, commercial poultry or with backyard birds are at higher risk than other people. CDC and other experts said those people should use breathing, eye, and hand protection, especially if the animals appear ill or if they die. 17The CDC said in July that it would buy $5 million in vaccines for farmworkers to protect against seasonal flu. If someone becomes infected with two flu types at the same time, it might permit the bird flu virus to mutate and to become more dangerous. 18How else is bird flu spread? 19The H5N1 virus can also be spread in raw, or unpasteurized, milk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says pasteurized milk is safe to drink because the heat treatment kills the virus. 20But high levels of the virus have been found in unpasteurized milk. Health officials urge people to avoid drinking raw milk. It can spread other germs in addition to bird flu. 21The U.S. Agriculture Department has increased its testing of raw milk across the country to identify and contain avian flu. Federal officials ordered milk testing which began this month in 13 states. 22I'm Anna Matteo. 23Jonel Aleccia reported this story for the Associated Press. Jill Robbins adapted it for Learning English. 24______________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26mild -adj. having little effect on a person, not severe at all 27herd -n. a group of animals such as cattle or sheep 28dairy - adj. of or relating to a type of farming that deals with the production of milk and foods made from milk 29mutate - v. to cause (a gene) to change and create an unusual characteristic in a plant or animal 30backyard - n. the general area near and around someone's home 31assume -v. to take something as correct without confirming that it is correct or right 32potential - n. a chance or possibility that something will happen or exist in the future 33poultry - n. birds (such as chickens and ducks) that are raised on farms for their eggs or meat 34pasteurized - adj. put through a process in which a liquid (such as milk or cream) is heated to a temperature that kills harmful germs and then cooled quickly 35What do you think of this story? Write to us in the Comments Section.