A new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found that three dairy veterinarians in the US have recently tested positive for undetected bird flu infections, despite not working with infected birds. The study tested 150 veterinarians from 46 states and found that the virus, H5N1, may be spreading more widely than previously reported.
The findings suggest that people who work closely with cows may be at risk of infection, even if they don’t have contact with sick birds. The CDC is urging for increased testing, including asymptomatic dairy workers and veterinarians, to better understand the scope of the outbreak.
Currently, bird flu has been confirmed in over 950 dairy herds in 16 states and has also affected 68 people, mostly with mild symptoms. However, experts warn that this data may not be comprehensive due to delayed publication by the Trump administration’s pause on public communications.
The study highlights the need for further testing of the nation’s milk supply, which has been confirmed positive in some states but not others. The US Department of Agriculture recently announced a national program to test bulk samples of milk, with 40 states currently participating.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/13/science/cdc-bird-flu-infections.html