The Liberty Conservative- In a concerning development for the US dairy industry, the current strain of avian flu, H5N1 or bird flu, has now spread to dairy cows, infecting more than 20 herds across eight states. This outbreak has raised fears about the potential impact on both public health and the economy.
The situation took a more serious turn when a Texas dairy worker contracted a mild case of bird flu from one of the affected farms, marking the second such case recorded in the country. The American Association of Bovine Practitioners (AABP) is now attempting to rebrand bird flu in cows as Bovine Influenza A Virus (BIAV) in an effort to maintain consumer confidence in beef and dairy products.
The cattle industry is also working to distance itself from the bird flu news cycle, as they seek to avoid any association with a potential human disease risk. However, experts warn that animal agriculture, which is a major driver of zoonotic diseases, poses a significant threat in terms of new outbreaks.
The “infectious disease trap” model helps to explain how animal agriculture’s land use and factory farming practices contribute to the rising risk of diseases. Long-distance shipment of cows is believed to be a possible factor in the rapid spread of bird flu among dairy farms across the nation.
Despite efforts by the dairy industry to improve biosecurity and restrict cow imports from states where bird flu has been detected, experts argue that more comprehensive testing and broader societal changes are needed to prevent future outbreaks. With global demand for meat, dairy, and eggs on the rise, it is crucial to address the root causes of these infectious diseases before they spiral out of control.
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