More Dairy Herds Infected with Avian Flu
As the calendar turns to September, the nationwide Avian flu (Bird flu)outbreaks show no sign of slowing down. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported a new bird flu outbreak in a New Mexico dairy herd. California, which produces about one-fifth of the United States’ milk is investigating possible infections on three Central Valley dairy farms. The confirmed New Mexico outbreak marks the country’s 194th this year across 13 states. While testing has shown the commercial dairy supply to be safe, experts warn that the uncontrolled spread of the virus could help it mutate into a more dangerous virus that can easily spread between humans.
Full Story: CIDRAP, Yahoo News
Measles Cases in Minnesota and Oregon Highlight Nationwide Surge of Infections
Minnesota continues to deal with a summer wave of measles infections as the state confirmed new outbreaks. The additional cases brings the state’s total to 30 for the year, all of whom are unvaccinated. All of the cases except for one were children and one-third of the patients required hospitalization.
Oregon also reported a new cluster of cases, raising the state’s 2024 to 30 as well. All cases were individuals who are not vaccinated, and twelve of the patients were children under age 10. Oregon has one of the US’s highest vaccination exemption rates at 8.8 percent. However, the outbreaks in these two states highlight nationwide, and global, trends of declining vaccination rates and rising infections.
