2024-05-26

Chris Bob

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Writer's Summary:

Good morning Melissa,

Even though you no longer have a subscription, I'm granting you access to a free video and some articles through Fresh Start. This week, I'm focusing on the avian flu that's making headlines.

I want to ensure you stay safe and informed, so I'm sharing insights on how experts warn that bird flu could be the next big health concern. Researchers are finding it in surprising places, but there are ways to deal with it. Additionally, the World Health Organization is making decisions that could affect us all.

Your support keeps our independent journalism going strong. Consider subscribing to help us keep you informed and safe!

Happy reading!

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US News

Testing Finds Bird Flu in Tissue of US Dairy Cow

Researchers with the University of Wisconsin–Madison and other institutions said laboratory experiments on milk from cows infected with the bird flu found high levels of the virus in raw milk, even after five weeks. The researchers also tested different levels of pasteurization and found that heating the milk at 145 degrees for at least five minutes left the virus indetectable.

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Fallout

H5N1 Avian Flu: Everything You Need to Know | FALLOUT

We have been hearing a lot about H5N1 avian influenza in recent months. Should you be afraid? Or are fears overblown? And how does this relate to recent testimonies surrounding gain-of-function research? What kind of gain-of-function research has already been done on avian flu, and what are the possible implications? This is all in the context of a looming World Health Organization (WHO) vote that could give the WHO unprecedented powers over global public health policy in the name of "pandemic preparedness."

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World News

Bird Flu Likely Candidate for 'Next Pandemic': Australian Professor

Monash University School of Medicine virologist Vinod Balasubramaniam said "several factors" make avian influenza a potential candidate for the "next pandemic." These include a wide host range, high mutation rate, genetic reassortment, high mortality rates, and genetic reassortment. He said genetic reassortment "can create highly pathogenic strains with pandemic potential." Further, he noted some subtypes of the bird flu like H5N1 have high mortality rates in humans.