When we think about species-specific diseases, the idea of them transferring to other non-related species is rarely thought of. As the world has changed some of these diseases have obtained the ability to transfer to new species. These diseases are known as zoonosis meaning they can be transferred between different species. Since 2021 there has been a bird flu or avian influenza pandemic going on. Since the outbreak, hundreds of thousands of domestic and wild birds have been killed by this pandemic so far. In birds, it has been seen that the disease quickly spreads through entire flocks and is very dangerous. The discovery of the bird flu within cattle was very surprising and has been seen to have altered effects on cattle.
It was first reported to be found in dairy cattle in late March 2024 within herds in Texas and Kansas. This is the first time that avian flu has been seen in cattle and also the first reported case of this strain of avian flu being passed to a human through another mammal. This strain of flu is known as animal influenza or A virus. Normally they just transfer through animals and only transfer to humans when they come in contact with contaminated animals and environments. The strain found in cattle first presented itself as a cold, later it was discovered to be Avian Influenza. Unlike cases in birds, it transfers slower and has less devastating effects on the cattle. Currently, there are no cases reported in beef cattle, but there have been sixteen cases reported in dairy cattle with eight being from Texas. This caused a sharp decrease in milk production and eating in the infected cattle. While it is possible to contract the disease from cattle, it is highly unlikely and is very slow to transfer to other dairy cattle. While it is something to keep an eye out for, there is nothing to worry about and milk produced by infected cows will still be safe to sell and drink as long as it is pasteurized. For now, there are no major problems surrounding the transfer of avian flu to dairy cattle; it is important to keep an eye out for changes and new major problems that could arise over time.
