The Epinhood (TEH)

• Bird Flu Strain: A new H5N1 bird flu strain (D1.1) has been detected in cattle in Nevada, marking the first time this strain has been found in cows.
• Symptoms in Cattle: Cattle infected with the D1.1 strain have exhibited respiratory symptoms, including coughing and sneezing.
• Previous Human Cases: The D1.1 strain was linked to a fatal human case in Louisiana in 2024, while the B3.13 strain, found in cows, has caused only mild symptoms in humans.
• Bird Flu Strain in Cows: The D1.1 bird flu strain has been detected in cows, challenging the notion that the virus spreading to cows from wild birds was a rare event.
• Impact on Cattle: The D1.1 strain has infected nearly a thousand cow herds across 16 states, causing symptoms like fever, reduced feed consumption, and respiratory issues.
• Human Health Concerns: While the risk to humans is considered low, the discovery of the D1.1 strain in cows adds to the existing concerns about the spread of bird flu.
• Disease Confirmation: Two herds in Nevada were confirmed to have been infected with the D1.1 strain of bird flu after a silo that received milk from the cows tested positive for the virus.
• Human Exposure: It is unclear how many workers in the state may have been exposed to the D1.1 strain after working with the sick cows.
• Risk to Humans: The CDC maintains that the risk to humans remains low, but it is unclear if the D1.1 strain’s spillover changes that risk assessment.
• HPAI Detection: First detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, genotype D1.1 in dairy cattle in Nevada.
• Source of Detection: Initial detection was made through silo testing under the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy (NMTS).
• Genotype Significance: Genotype D1.1, predominant in North American flyways, represents the first detection in dairy cattle, differing from previous detections of genotype B3.13.
• Genotype D1.1 Transmission: The jump of genotype D1.1 from cattle to humans is a concern for increased transmissibility and morbidity/mortality.
• Data Publication: APHIS will publish a technical brief on the findings and post the sequence data on GenBank in the coming week.
• Related Reports: Recent ProMED reports discuss avian influenza cases in various US states, including H5N1, H5N9, and other subtypes in poultry and wild birds.
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