BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The threat of another pandemic could be looming as avian influenza infects animals across the country.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, is testing beef products for the virus as H5N1 avian flu infects wild birds across the country.
It has led to an outbreak in poultry and dairy cows.
“We need to be concerned, not complacent,” said Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network’s senior vice president of medical and academic affairs and section chief emeritus of infectious diseases.
"It is something that we have to keep an eye on because what we've noticed is that it has gone from birds, waterfowl, to a lot of different mammals, including many of the seamount mammals like seals and otters, et cetera.
"And now, most recently in the United States, to cows."
"We know that it is spreading from one cow herd to another and that when cows are infected, their milk is discarded. But one of the problems is that we now are beginning to realize that there can be asymptomatic or non-symptomatic cows. And so how this is going to affect milk production, we're not exactly certain."Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, St. Luke’s University Health Network’s senior vice president of medical and academic affairs
Jahre said that although the threat to humans is low, it’s important to keep a close watch on the situation before it turns into a pandemic.
"We know that it is spreading from one cow herd to another and that when cows are infected, their milk is discarded,” he said.
“But one of the problems is that we now are beginning to realize that there can be asymptomatic or non-symptomatic cows.
"And so how this is going to affect milk production, we're not exactly certain."
Fear that virus could mutate
Jahre said pasteurizing the milk seems to kill off any viruses, so at this time it’s still safe to drink.
Nine states have reported dairy cows that have been infected with the virus, according to the USDA. However, only one person, who works on a dairy farm in Texas, has been infected with it.
Jahre said that although human cases are very rare, the fear is that the virus could mutate and become more dangerous to people.
"It's possible that a whole new strain can arise that can be much more infectious for humans."Dr. Jeffrey Jahre, infectious disease specialist, St. Luke’s University Health Network
“Pigs are one of the animals that can not only get infected with the avian influenza, but with human strains of influenza.
"And then when you have this mixing bowl effect, and the two can come together and transfer various genes, it's possible that a whole new strain can arise that can be much more infectious for humans."
Jahre said the good news is that the current influenza vaccine provides some cross-protection from the to the avian flu.
However, he said the rate at which people are getting vaccinated for the flu is low — only 35% of eligible people.
To prevent further spread of avian flu, Jahre said people should avoid close contact with wild birds, cook meat and poultry thoroughly, and wash hands after handling raw meat.
“It's a pandemic in waterfowl in domestic fowl, mammals, but not a pandemic in humans right now and I think that's the important thing we just need to keep an eye on it," Jahre said.
The current strain of avian flu has been around since 1997, when it was first identified in Hong Kong.
