U.S. officials reported that dairy cows in the country were found to have an avian flu virus variant that had been affecting birds and causing severe illness in humans.
The Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday that the H5N1 avian influenza strain was identified in cattle in Nevada for the first time.
This finding raises concerns about a worsening of the animal epidemic known as avian flu in the country, and a higher likelihood of a human pandemic.
A new variation of the H5N1 virus has been spreading extensively on American farms since the previous year, resulting in over 950 reported cases of infection across 16 states.
Several individuals employed at these farms contracted this strain in 2024 and experienced mild disease symptoms.
D1.1 has been linked to severe human cases, such as the initial fatality from avian flu documented in the United States in early January.
It has been found in wild birds, poultry farms, and various mammals, as reported by the Department of Agriculture website.
Cows infected with both strains of the virus showed similar symptoms such as decreased food consumption, reduced milk production, and mild respiratory signs in February, as reported by a Nevada official to CBS.
Specialists are concerned about the increasing number of infected mammals, as they believe it could make it easier for the virus to mutate and spread among humans.
The absence of communication from the federal government has heightened this fear, as they have ceased various epidemiological reports since Donald Trump took office.