Dr. Barb Petersen started receiving calls in early March from concerned dairy owners in Texas. The farmers were troubled by the sight of crows, pigeons, and other birds dying on their farms. As if that wasn’t alarming enough, they soon discovered that several barn cats, including half of them on one particular farm, had also died suddenly.
Within a few days, the Amarillo veterinarian started receiving reports about sick cows exhibiting unusual symptoms. These symptoms included high fevers, loss of appetite, and a significant decrease in milk production. Despite conducting tests for common illnesses, the results came back negative.
Related posts
Petersen, a diligent farmer overseeing a multitude of cattle on several farms in the expansive Texas Panhandle, took the initiative to collect samples from both feline and bovine species. With utmost care, he dispatched these samples to Dr. Drew Magstadt, a close college acquaintance who currently serves as an esteemed professional at the veterinary diagnostic laboratory located within Iowa State University.
The samples revealed the presence of a previously unidentified strain of bird flu in cattle, marking the first documented case of Type A H5N1 virus infecting cows. The U.S. Agriculture Department has reported 36 confirmed cases of infection in American herds as of Wednesday.
Petersen vividly remembers the moment, still filled with surprise and a hint of disbelief.
Petersen noticed that on nearly every farm where there were sick animals, there were also sick individuals.
“We made it a priority to regularly check on the well-being of our employees,” Petersen stated. “Even those who were never absent from work had to take a day off.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been two confirmed cases of H5N1 infection in the United States. The most recent case is a Texas dairy worker who is connected to the cattle outbreak. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis, a CDC respiratory diseases official, stated that approximately two dozen people have been tested and around 100 individuals have been under monitoring since the virus was detected in cows.
According to Daskalakis, the CDC has not observed any abnormal flu patterns in regions with infected cows. However, there are experts who question whether the anecdotal reports of sick workers may indicate that more than one person contracted the virus from the animals.
According to Petersen, several workers displayed flu-like symptoms, including fever, body aches, and nasal congestion. Additionally, some individuals experienced conjunctivitis, which was also observed in the Texas dairy worker who was diagnosed with bird flu.
Dr. Gregory Gray, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, has been collecting samples from both livestock and people on two farms in Texas. He mentioned that there have been reports of mild illnesses among the workers on farms where cattle infections have been confirmed.
Conducting his research has proven to be quite challenging. Numerous workers are hesitant to undergo testing, possibly due to limited access to healthcare or concerns about disclosing personal health information.
Gray stated that without confirmation, it remains uncertain whether the sick workers were infected with the bird flu virus or some other unrelated illness.
Gray stated that the phenomenon appears to be connected both temporally and spatially, leading one to conclude that it is biologically plausible.
According to Petersen, some of the workers who became sick sought medical care and were prescribed oseltamivir, an antiviral medication marketed as Tamiflu.
According to CDC spokesman Jason McDonald, some farm workers who came into contact with infected animals or individuals were given the medication. Federal guidelines dictate that state health officials are responsible for assessing and administering treatment.
According to Chris Van Deusen, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services, health officials in Texas distributed Tamiflu to the individual infected with H5N1, as well as their family members. Additionally, two individuals who were exposed to infected animals on a second dairy farm also received the antiviral medication. It is unclear if others were offered the medication.
According to Dr. Kay Russo, a Colorado veterinarian who provided consultation on the outbreak with Petersen, farmers have been reluctant to grant access to health officials on their land.
According to Russo, this disease is often seen as a scarlet letter, carrying a heavy stigma.
Russo emphasized the need for expanded testing of cattle, individuals, and milk.
“We are unaware of what we fail to measure,” she expressed. “Regrettably, the situation escalated much quicker than our ability to respond.”
Gray expresses concern about a new federal mandate that mandates testing for all lactating dairy cows when they are transported across state lines. He worries that this requirement could further impede collaboration among farmers. Gray mentions that some farmers may choose not to comply with the testing requirement in the hopes of waiting out the outbreak.
According to Gray, the refusal of workers and farmers to participate in testing is significantly impeding our ability to comprehend the transmission of the virus, the current extent of the outbreak, and its potential rate of growth.
He expressed his concerns about the impact, stating that it is a highly detrimental effect.
Petersen empathized with the fears of both workers and farmers. She commended those farmers who had allowed her to collect the initial samples, which ultimately confirmed the outbreak. Reflecting on the results, she pondered over their potential implications.
“When contemplating the situation, one can’t help but empathize with the cows, the dedicated individuals who look after them, and the families who rely on these farms,” she expressed. “One’s thoughts naturally gravitate towards the broader perspective and long-term implications. It’s impossible not to feel a sense of worry and apprehension.”
