Great run down, thank you Eric! This subject has a natural overlap between the veterinary and human medical worlds so it’s great to have a DVM perspective. I’ve read elsewhere that this H5N1 has been particularly lethal in cats. Would be a good idea to monitor that situation if and when an astute DVM might pick up a cluster?
The psychology of a second major pandemic combined with authoritarian big lie governments led by infallible strongmen could be “wild.”
I agree! Many, if not most, pandemics are zoonotic (animal diseases that spread to humans), so we should really be embracing One Health and collaborating more between our professions.
You are right that H5N1 seems to be particularly pathogenic for cats. Most of the ones on farms (presumably infected by drinking the milk) have died :( I’m not aware of it being a general problem in the wider non-farm cat population yet (which probably supports the fact that we’re not seeing occult human transmission). Im sure that’s why vet labs are now required to report any cases they detect in samples from all over, and they may represent a good sentinel for spillover
"The new study found that cats carry both types of receptors in their brain, lungs and gastrointestinal system, meaning they can host both viruses. As the flu season picks up over the coming weeks, so do the odds of cats becoming simultaneously infected with H5N1 and a seasonal flu virus."
There is a dearth of information on sialic receptors on many mammalian species.
So will the spillover come from cows, pigs, or cats?
As for which species will be the ultimate spillover, unclear. When I was researching this latest article, I was struck by the fact that the strains infecting cattle and wild birds already seem to be diverging in behavior. More people seem to be getting infected by the cattle genotype, although disease severity seems to be mild, while the bird genotype seems to be causing both of the severe cases that have been reported 🤔
I thought I heard Mike Osterholm say on his last Osterholm Update (Episode 172 from December 5th) that while he's concerned about both genotypes, the bird genotype is the one that's more worrisome. (Starts at about 25:10)
However, CIDRAP just dropped a new Osterholm Update today (Dec 19th, episode 173) which I haven't listened to yet. The shownotes look like it's an H5N1-heavy episode. Gonna listen later tonight.
Interesting note on severity...I have some thoughts and posted recently on this. Most notably is conjunctivitis which could be due to the SAα2,3 in the eyes and upper respiratory system. SAα2,6, if I am not mistaken, lower respiratory system? Also appears to be contact infection.
I was very disappointed to see a DACVN promoting raw food at a recent large name conference, unsurprisingly sponsored by one of those raw food companies :/
I read the new bird flu cases have a very high death rate - 50% that would probably be less if it were to become a more contagious form by thinking the virulently would be reduced by people with other vaccine exposure such as Covid and flu for this year due to the similarity . Thoughts ?
I'm not sure I have seen *any* confirmed deaths from the 2024 H5N1 outbreak yet; the status of the two reported severe cases in British Columbia and Louisiana are unclear at the moment. The ~50% mortality rate you see quoted in articles is from previous global outbreaks. It is probably true that with wider testing both the case fatality rate (CFR) and the Infection Fatality Rate (IFR), which includes undiagnosed cases, would be lower. Still, it's not a proposition I want to find out because any way you slice it appears to be a very dangerous virus!
Great run down, thank you Eric! This subject has a natural overlap between the veterinary and human medical worlds so it’s great to have a DVM perspective. I’ve read elsewhere that this H5N1 has been particularly lethal in cats. Would be a good idea to monitor that situation if and when an astute DVM might pick up a cluster?
The psychology of a second major pandemic combined with authoritarian big lie governments led by infallible strongmen could be “wild.”
I agree! Many, if not most, pandemics are zoonotic (animal diseases that spread to humans), so we should really be embracing One Health and collaborating more between our professions.
You are right that H5N1 seems to be particularly pathogenic for cats. Most of the ones on farms (presumably infected by drinking the milk) have died :( I’m not aware of it being a general problem in the wider non-farm cat population yet (which probably supports the fact that we’re not seeing occult human transmission). Im sure that’s why vet labs are now required to report any cases they detect in samples from all over, and they may represent a good sentinel for spillover
Seems like I have some great company in tracking H5N1 developments. I shared in my last post a NYT piece on a new study: Could Cats Become a Carrier of Bird Flu? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/health/bird-flu-h5n1-cats.html
Marked neurotropism and potential adaptation of H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4.b virus in naturally infected domestic cats
The study https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/22221751.2024.2440498
"The new study found that cats carry both types of receptors in their brain, lungs and gastrointestinal system, meaning they can host both viruses. As the flu season picks up over the coming weeks, so do the odds of cats becoming simultaneously infected with H5N1 and a seasonal flu virus."
There is a dearth of information on sialic receptors on many mammalian species.
So will the spillover come from cows, pigs, or cats?
Thanks for sharing, will check those out!
As for which species will be the ultimate spillover, unclear. When I was researching this latest article, I was struck by the fact that the strains infecting cattle and wild birds already seem to be diverging in behavior. More people seem to be getting infected by the cattle genotype, although disease severity seems to be mild, while the bird genotype seems to be causing both of the severe cases that have been reported 🤔
I thought I heard Mike Osterholm say on his last Osterholm Update (Episode 172 from December 5th) that while he's concerned about both genotypes, the bird genotype is the one that's more worrisome. (Starts at about 25:10)
However, CIDRAP just dropped a new Osterholm Update today (Dec 19th, episode 173) which I haven't listened to yet. The shownotes look like it's an H5N1-heavy episode. Gonna listen later tonight.
Interesting note on severity...I have some thoughts and posted recently on this. Most notably is conjunctivitis which could be due to the SAα2,3 in the eyes and upper respiratory system. SAα2,6, if I am not mistaken, lower respiratory system? Also appears to be contact infection.
I'll post a link to that when I get time.
BTW, I use CIDRAP as one of many souurces. https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu
Clearly this is getting traction as all 50 states have confirmed H5N1 in animals.
Thanks foe the shout out and be on the lookout for neurological cats.
Also...now that I think about it...should we ask raw feed screening questions about all the industrial raw pet food...might need to look into that...
Good to know 😬😬😬
I am SURE all those marketing departments masquerading as pet food companies are doing their due diligence around Avian Influenza
I was very disappointed to see a DACVN promoting raw food at a recent large name conference, unsurprisingly sponsored by one of those raw food companies :/
Just in time for RFK Jr!
I read the new bird flu cases have a very high death rate - 50% that would probably be less if it were to become a more contagious form by thinking the virulently would be reduced by people with other vaccine exposure such as Covid and flu for this year due to the similarity . Thoughts ?
I'm not sure I have seen *any* confirmed deaths from the 2024 H5N1 outbreak yet; the status of the two reported severe cases in British Columbia and Louisiana are unclear at the moment. The ~50% mortality rate you see quoted in articles is from previous global outbreaks. It is probably true that with wider testing both the case fatality rate (CFR) and the Infection Fatality Rate (IFR), which includes undiagnosed cases, would be lower. Still, it's not a proposition I want to find out because any way you slice it appears to be a very dangerous virus!