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What to know about the current avian influenza outbreak

By: Erica Moser Date: Oct 17, 2024
Baby chick getting swabbed
Image: iStock/Merrimon

A Texas dairy herd first reported in March that cattle had tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). Since then, the H5N1 version of the virus has spread to 299 dairy herds in 14 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which has also reported more than 100 million poultry affected in 48 states. Twenty cases, all of them non-fatal, have been reported in humans this year.

“The risk of widespread transmission of avian influenza to humans is low,” says Cheryl Bettigole of the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Penn Medicine. “But we also know that agricultural workers, who work with cattle and other animals, are at highest risk of infection and that the majority of these workers are immigrants who have high rates of being uninsured.”

Louise Moncla, assistant professor of pathobiology at the School of Veterinary Medicine, notes that while human-to-human transmission of avian influenza has not been documented, there is some concern the virus could eventually evolve to transmit between people.

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About Penn Vet

Ranked among the top ten veterinary schools worldwide, the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) is a global leader in veterinary education, research, and clinical care. Founded in 1884, Penn Vet is the first veterinary school developed in association with a medical school. The school is a proud member of the One Health initiative, linking human, animal, and environmental health.

Penn Vet serves a diverse population of animals at its two campuses, which include extensive diagnostic and research laboratories. Ryan Hospital in Philadelphia provides care for dogs, cats, and other domestic/companion animals, handling more than 34,600 patient visits a year. New Bolton Center, Penn Vet’s large-animal hospital on nearly 700 acres in rural Kennett Square, PA, cares for horses and livestock/farm animals. The hospital handles more than 6,200 patient visits a year, while our Field Services have gone out on more than 5,500 farm service calls, treating some 18,700 patients at local farms. In addition, New Bolton Center’s campus includes a swine center, working dairy, and poultry unit that provide valuable research for the agriculture industry.