Missouri recently detected a case of H5N1 bird flu in a person with no known exposure to infected animals or products. Three individuals who had contact with this person showed respiratory symptoms but were not tested. California, which has the largest number of dairy cows in the US, reported infected herds. Colorado mandated routine testing of bulk milk on dairy farms, leading to the detection of infected herds. A sequencing-based approach using wastewater samples could provide visibility into H5N1’s distribution and evolution. The cost and limitations of this approach need to be considered, along with the necessity of on-farm testing to prevent a potential epidemic.
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How to better understand scope of H5N1 bird flu outbreak
