The world avian flu panzootic that flew under the radar as SARS-Covid 19 captured everyone's attention is still around and infecting more non-bird species. Just this month it is infecting herd animals in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Kansas, Texas and probably New Mexico. It is possible that in a matter of a few months it shows up in Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, and other Midwestern states. No human cases are trotted yet, but since dairy cattle have been found with the virus, it may be possible that human hosts show up as well.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/avian-flu-cases-in-cattle-reported-in-midwest-milk-supply-reported-safe/article_cb3319be-ec74-11ee-a53b-bf1a306c4f03.html
https://www.livescience.com/health/flu/in-world-1st-dairy-cows-in-texas-and-kansas-test-positive-for-h5n1-bird-flu
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/avian-flu-detected-first-time-us-livestock
Mammals (and by extension humans) seem to be terminal hosts for the virus, i.e they don't pass it among each other. Further, so far the virus, when contracted by land mammals, is not lethal and infected animals recover. However, like Covid, there's still a lot to learn about this new eruption and clade and as more data and cases come in, it may heighten USDA alarm levels. It's unlikely to cause the same devastation to the herds as it did to the poultry flocks, but at this point it's difficult to predict. We should stay watchful.
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In other climate change related news, something entirely unexpected:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/27/climate/timekeeping-polar-ice-melt-earth-rotation/index.html
I had an Ornithology professor talk about this in 2019. I think we spent an entire class period talking about the threat of a looming pandemic and then wham. He was under the impression that Avian flu would be the big one. Idk anymore I just don't wanna think about it all...... I've also talked to some chicken farmers about the threat of migrating geese dropping it off. I think the large confinements are more of a threat. I just le my chickens free range I think they are healthier in the open air.