#18,274
A little over 5 months ago, in Minnesota BOAH Statement On HPAI H5N1 Infected Goat Kids, we looked at the first known detection of HPAI H5Nx in goats. A few days later we saw the first reports of cattle infected with H5N1 in Texas - which has now spread to at least 14 states - and along the way, we've also seen reports of H5N1 in Alpacas.
Six months ago, the conventional wisdom was that cattle, goats, alpacas, and other livestock were largely immune to influenza A infection (see 2019's Influenza A in Bovine Species: A Narrative Literature Review), although it wasn't considered impossible.
With in excess of 190 herds now affected in the United States (undoubtedly an undercount, due to a lack of mandatory testing), we now know that HPAI can and does affect dairy cattle. And while it has only been reported in the United States, it seems likely that other outbreaks have gone undetected around the globe.
Today we have a preprint (see link below) that finds high levels of antibodies to H5, H7, and H9 influenza A viruses in goats and sheep in Pakistan, all of which is highly suggestive of past infection.
While most countries continue to refuse to aggressively test for the virus, the authors warn that `The failure to recognize the potential role of a broader range of livestock species as potential hosts for AIV is a major blind spot in pandemic preparedness planning.'
Due to copyright restrictions, I'm just posting the link. Click the title to read this brief, albeit eye-opening, report in its entirety. I'll have more after the break.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5 virus exposure in goats and sheep
Foong Ying Wong, Tahir Yaqub, Rong Zhang, Nadia Mukhtar, Hamda Pervaiz, Hafiz Usama Hussain Yawar, Mubashir Iqbal, Hassaan bin Aslam, Muhammad Waqar Aziz, Maham Akram, Sumbal Raza, Jenny G Low, Peter Cronin, Eric D Laing, Dolyce HW Low, Richard J Webby, Yvonne CF Su, Gavin JD Smith
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.08.31.610397
One has to assume that if it has appeared in goats, cattle, and alpacas in North America, and in goats and sheep half-a-world away in Pakistan, it could be spilling over (unnoticed) in other places as well.
But of course, we can't know that if we aren't willing to look.
