The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has published genetic data from avian flu virus samples, increasing transparency and supporting disease research. The move follows criticism from scientists about the limited public information available to assess the ongoing outbreak’s risk.
The release includes 239 genetic sequences of H5N1 samples collected from chickens, dairy cattle, birds, a cat, a raccoon, and a skunk. The USDA had previously shared genetic sequences from the initial outbreak on a Texas dairy farm, where 32 herds in eight states have now tested positive for the virus.
While the virus has not significantly impacted the dairy industry or milk supply, it has decimated bird populations and infected various mammal species. Concerns have grown as the outbreak continues to spread, with an extremely rare case of a human infection reported in Texas. However, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control and the World Health Organization consider the public risk to be low, and the USDA does not believe any changes have made the virus more transmissible to humans.
The USDA encourages dairy producers to monitor their herds for symptoms but does not mandate testing. The agency has also barred farms with positive cases from selling milk. There have been no cases of the virus found in beef cattle, so there are no concerns about meat supply and safety in regards to the bird flu.
