ScienceSpread

Bird Flu H5N1 continues to expand its host range and recently added cows to the list. What does that mean for milk?

🦠 Highly Pathogenic Avian Flu, also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), is wreaking havoc worldwide, leading to the deadliest avian pandemic ever recorded. The planet has lost millions of bird lives since outbreaks started occurring back in late 2021/early 2022 which is truly upsetting, heartbreaking, and concerning 💔. The circulating virus belongs to the clade known as 2.3.4.4b (not very memorable, sorry!). Avian influenza is considered bird adapted but has jumped to mammals multiple times, including very rare human cases. Still, this virus could be a couple of specific mutations away from being a big problem for humans, so it is considered a virus of human pandemic potential.

Citizen science is so valuable for us! Your bird observations allow us to plan field surveillance as well as have a better idea of how, where and why the virus is/isn't found in some regions. iNaturalist ans eBird are completely free and an amazing way to connect to the natural world 🌍

🦠 Interested in my lab’s research? Check us out at: blogs.umb.edu/nichola-hill/

🐤 eBird and iNaturalist apps are available on the Apple and android play store. They really are a great way to get to know your local fauna and connect to your non-human neighbors!

📈 Keep track of the outbreak here: cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-flu-summary.htm

*Marcel Klaassen, Michelle Wille bioRxiv 2023.05.02.539182; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.02.539182

A note about hope 🫶🏼

Do you know how your DNA stores your genetic information?

DNA is a household name nowadays but most people don't know a lot about it, which is a shame since it is so important for out bodies!!

Don't miss the bonus at the end! 🐕‍🦺