Stock up on ribeyes now

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Cows Have Been Infected With a Second Form of Bird Flu

A new version of the virus is widespread in wild birds but had not previously been detected in cows.

NY Times
By Emily Anthes and Apoorva Mandavilli
Feb. 5, 2025, 4:43 p.m. ET

Dairy cows in Nevada have been infected with a new form of bird flu that is distinct from the version that has been spreading through herds over the last year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday.

The finding indicates that the virus, known as H5N1, has spilled from birds into cows at least twice — leading to these two sets of infections — and that it could continue to do so. It also suggests that the virus may pose a persistent risk to cows and to the people who work closely with them.

Before last year, scientists did not know that cows were susceptible to this type of influenza.

“This is not what anyone wanted to see,” said Louise Moncla, an evolutionary biologist who studies avian influenza at the University of Pennsylvania. “We need to now consider the possibility that cows are more broadly susceptible to these viruses than we initially thought.”

The news was announced in a news release from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, a division of the Department of Agriculture. Federal agencies have not held a news briefing on bird flu since President Trump took office.

The virus that has been spreading through the nation’s dairies is a version of H5N1 known as B3.13, which has infected more than 950 herds in 16 states. Scientists believe that it initially jumped to cows from birds about a year ago, somewhere in the Texas panhandle. That transition took scientists by surprise, and this new one even more so.

“I was kind of under the belief that the bird-to-cow movement was a pretty rare event,” said Richard Webby, an influenza expert at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The fact that it has happened again is “a little bit of a ‘wow’ to me,” he added.

The cows in Nevada were infected with a version of the virus known as D1.1, which has been spreading in wild birds and poultry. It was initially detected in milk collected from a silo as part of a national milk testing strategy announced by the U.S.D.A. late last year.

The D1.1 form of H5N1 has also shown itself to be dangerous to people. Of the 67 Americans known to have become ill with H5N1 so far, the only one who died was infected with this version. That person, a Louisiana resident older than 65, had cared for sick and dying birds and died in early January.

In November, a 13-year-old Canadian girl also became infected with the D1.1 virus, but it is unclear where she might have acquired it. Her only risk factor was obesity, but she, too, became seriously ill and was placed on life support because of organ failure. She eventually recovered.

Avian influenza is so called because it is best adapted to infecting birds. But in both these individuals, the virus gained mutations during the course of infection that might allow it to better infect people.

“It is possible that the virus is more permissive for human adaptive mutations,” said Scott Hensley, an immunologist at the University of Pennsylvania.

Reassuringly, the virus did not seem to spread from either person to anyone else. Still, its evolution indicated that it was capable of gaining the ability to efficiently spread among people.

So far, at least, the spread of D1.1 to cows “doesn’t change the average person’s life,” Dr. Moncla said. But it poses risks for dairy workers and the dairy industry, experts said. It also suggests the possibility that cows already infected once with B.3.13 could become ill a second time with D1.1, Dr. Webby said.

“It’s no longer just one virus,” he said. “This, to me, suggests that it’s going to be a lingering problem.”

Since January 2022, when H5N1 was detected in wild aquatic birds in the United States, the virus has affected more than 153 million commercial, backyard and wild birds, resulting in record prices on eggs.

It has also struck dozens of mammalian species, including cats both wild and domesticated, raccoons, bears and sea lions.

[unclebilly]

Just what we need right now.

Cattle at all time high prices and a headline fuelled cow epidemic on the horizon…

[WPOZZZ]

Just go to Sams and buy the side and slice into ribeyes any thickness you want, then freeze.

[fintstone]

It just sounds like someone needed another disaster.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

Just go to Sams and buy the side and slice into ribeyes any thickness you want, then freeze.

That's an idea, will get to Costco this weekend. I've got 3 2lb bone-ins in the freezer now so I'm good for 2 months but the bird flu has been going on for a year now I think.

[Alan A]

Stock up on milk... It said Dairy cows...

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

That's an idea, will get to Costco this weekend. I've got 3 2lb bone-ins in the freezer now so I'm good for 2 months but the bird flu has been going on for a year now I think.

Raise chickens and you get free eggs. I can't find eggs at Sams or Costco these days.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

I have always wanted to raise Bresse chickens.

[cabmandone]

I only buy from local guys (Non CAFO) so not too concerned.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by Shaun @ Tru6

I have always wanted to raise Bresse chickens.

One of my friends had about 7 Rhode Island Reds at his house. He said there were so many eggs everyday, they kept giving them away.

[Alan A]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

One of my friends had about 7 Rhode Island Reds at his house. He said there were so many eggs everyday, they kept giving them away.

wife's friend has the same problem.
she's run out of people that even want more eggs...

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

One of my friends had about 7 Rhode Island Reds at his house. He said there were so many eggs everyday, they kept giving them away.

I imagine. I eat a dozen every week or two so having 1 or 2 chickens would be great for me, gf and friends. I know the price of eggs has risen a lot from the flu but they are still insanely cheap for protein value.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by Alan A

wife's friend has the same problem.
she's run out of people that even want more eggs...

In this day and age, FB Marketplace.

[Rtrorkt]

fake news

[Baz]

Dang.......fridge is already full of Corona and Avocados......

[TimT]

Yes stock up..


Dry Aged Ribeye

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by TimT

Yes stock up..


Dry Aged Ribeye

I like my steak like my wine...fresh!

[A930Rocket]

Chicken/eggs ❌
Cows/meat/milk ❌

Are fish next? 🤷🏽

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Chicken/eggs ❌
Cows/meat/milk ❌

Are fish next? 🤷🏽

PFAS in the water and Mercury... can't eat those nasty things!

[faverymi]

Not to get political but.....

You are right.

What's next???

Is there a pattern?