A widespread outbreak of avian flu has infected millions of birds across the US, with epidemiologists tracking its spread to other animals and humans. Farmers in the Washington region are assisting in monitoring the virus’s movement.
Stephanie Berk, owner of Tikkun Olam Farm in Maryland, is urging local bird owners to register their flocks with the state to receive critical updates on health information. Berk emphasizes that registering is not a burden but rather a precautionary measure against the spread of avian flu.
According to Amy Maxmen, a journalist and evolutionary biologist, the risk of avian flu transmission from birds to humans remains relatively low, especially for those who do not handle chickens or cattle. However, she notes that the virus can mutate rapidly and its virulence among humans is still relatively low.
Maxmen highlights several concerns: inadequate detection and prevention measures, reluctance among farmers to report infected herds due to livelihood fears, and limited government support for studying animal transmission. She advocates for improved government efforts to detect and prevent the spread of avian flu.
Despite these challenges, Maxmen reports that progress has been made in developing bird flu vaccines, which could be used on poultry and cattle if deemed necessary by the USDA.
Source: https://wamu.org/story/25/03/05/dc-bird-flu-dc-area-farmers