The CDC has increased its risk assessment of the H5N1 bird flu virus in dairy cows, indicating a slightly higher chance of triggering a pandemic. The assessment was done using the influenza risk assessment tool (IRAT) and classified the virus as having a moderate risk of causing a pandemic. The CDC emphasizes that this assessment is for government planning and does not indicate a high risk to the general public. Despite ongoing transmission in cows, the virus has not shown increased capacity to spread among humans. Researchers find the situation confusing and challenging to interpret, with no evidence of increased risk of a pandemic.
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Could bird flu become a pandemic? CDC assesses risk
