AUTHOR: TYLER DURDEN
Written by Zachary Stieber through The Epoch Times,
The American Food and Drug Agency (FDA) is preparing for a script in which highly pathogenic avian influenza will begin to spread to people, said the Agency's Commissioner on May 8.
"This virus, like all viruses, mutates. We must proceed to prepare for the anticipation that he may jump on people" – told Senators Dr. Robert Califf, commissioner, during an interrogation in Washington.
Influenza, besides known as avian influenza or H5N1, has late begun to spread among cattle and another species. 1 individual in Texas had a confirmed case this year.
Commissioner for Food and Drug Administration Dr. Robert Califf in Washington, D.C. in a file photo. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
So far, genetic sequencing and another data indicate that influenza is simply a insignificant threat to humans and there are no indications that flu is transmitted from man to man. However, they are working on preparing treatment, tests and vaccines in case this changes.
"We were busy preparing in case the virus mutated in a way that would jump to people on a higher level" — said Dr. Califf before the Subcommittee on Agricultural Measures of the legislature Committee on Measures.
A patient in Texas experienced 1 symptom primarily: eye inflammation. Neither the patient nor many cows that were infected had respiratory symptoms. H5N1 frequently infects the respiratory tracts of birds.
"The real concern is that it will jump to human lungs, where, erstwhile it happened in another parts of the planet in the event of short epidemics, mortality was 25 percent" – Said Dr. Califf. These fears arise partially from how viruses usually mutate, as with COVID-1.
According to the planet wellness Organisation (WHO), 889 cases of H5N1 were confirmed worldwide from 2003 to 1 April 2024. Of the patients, 52 percent died.
WHO Head Scientist Jeremy Farrar He said recently, that H5N1 has evolved into a "global zoonotic animal pandemic" and that scientists fear that the virus can evolve to spread among humans.
Tedros Ghebreyesus, CEO of the organization, said on Wednesday that "the virus shows no signs of adaptation to spread among people, but greater supervision is needed".
Many experts consulted by the U.S. government are afraid about the flu surge on cattle and another species and how cattle mix with pigs, chickens and people on farms. May 3 survey by American and Danish scientists showed that bovine tissue tests have shown that these animals can be utilized as a "mixing vessel" for avian influenza due to the fact that receptors from chickens, ducks and humans have been expressed in cows.
Although the hazard is inactive low, "if we introduce countermeasures now and limit the spread of the virus now, it is much little likely that we will see a mutation that jumps over people, for which we are not prepared"— added Dr. Califf.
The current US government requires investigating of certain bovine animals before transferring them to another state. The guidelines include advising farm workers to wear protective equipment during contact with animals that may or may be sick with avian influenza.
The FDA focuses partially on ensuring that milk in the country is safe to drink. The agency and its partners examined milk samples from grocery stores. Although any samples were positive, no live virus was detected, which means the milk is safe.
Beef investigating results besides showed that beef is safe, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The agency confirmed H5N1 infection in 36 flocks in 9 states, including Colorado, Kansas and Michigan. Data from affected cows indicate that H5N1 began to circulate among cattle in late 2023, according to preprint from the department.
About 70 agricultural workers are being monitored in Colorado, said officials at the briefing this week, but no of them showed symptoms yet.
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.zerohedge.com/
