This is less of a content update and more of a “here’s what I really want to know,” but it’s still an update, I guess. It’s a bit hard to say where we currently stand with this problem, at least in terms of the most important aspects. That’s not uncommon with emerging diseases, but we’re
influenza
Update: Dairy Cattle and H5N1 Flu (April 8)
There’s not a lot new to report since last week about the finding of H5N1 influenza in dairy herds in multiple US states (see map below). That’s often a good sign.
H5N1 Avian Flu in Cats: What Do We Know So Far?
As with any emerging disease, we have more questions than answers, but we can make some interim assessments based on general principles of infection control, and what we’ve learned over the past couple years about this particular H5N1 influenza A virus that’s been circulating in wild birds all over the world, and spilling over into…
H5N1 Avian Flu in Cattle: What Farmers, Veterinarians, Governments and Consumers Can Do Now
There’s been a lot of concern about the recent identification of H5N1 avian flu in cattle in the US, along with a single human infection in a person working with infected cattle. Some of the concern is warranted, but some is overblown. We need to balance awareness versus paranoia, and try to better understand…
H5N1 Avian Flu in a Cat on a Dairy Farm (Completely Unsurprising)
H5N1 avian influenza has been found in cats on a dairy farm in New Mexico where cattle were infected with the same virus. As part of the farm investigation, some (number not reported) sick (type of illness not reported) cats were tested, and three were positive. There’s no way to know for sure, but I’d…
Human Case of H5N1 Likely Linked to Cattle
Following the recent report of H5N1 avian influenza in cattle in the US, the CDC has now reported H5N1 infection in a person from Texas who was exposed to infected dairy cattle. This is bound to get a lot of attention. To a large degree, it’s warranted, but it’s probably going to get…
Avian Flu in Cattle: What to Be Concerned About and What Not to Freak Out About
Recent reports from federal and state agencies in the US of H5N1 avian flu in cattle in Texas, Kansas and now other states have gotten a lot of attention, and for good reason; but, as is typical, some of the media coverage has gone a bit over the top. This is certainly a noteworthy event…
Respiratory Disease in Dogs Sweeping Across the US: Outbreak of Disease or Media Attention?
I’ve held off writing about this but since I’ve been answering many emails about it every day, here we go.
The questions I keep getting (as usual) are “What’s going on with this reported outbreak of respiratory disease in dogs in the US? What new disease is this?”
I’m not sure there’s a…
Update: Canine influenza in Alberta (October 26)
After a recent case of H3N2 influenza was detected in a dog in Calgary (that presumably originated in the US), there’s not much to update, which is hopefully good news. Things have been quiet. On one hand, that’s a bit surprising, because flu is highly transmissible and there’s basically no pre-existing immunity in the Canadian…
Canine Influenza in Alberta
Canine influenza has been identified in a dog in Calgary, Alberta. It is suspected to have been acquired from dogs that participated in a dog show in the US near the end of September. As expected, H3N2 canine flu is the cause (not H5N1 avian influenza, which has been detected in a number of poultry…