By R. Scott Nolen

April 24, 2023

https://www.avma.org/news/usda-tracking-bird-flu-spillover-events-mammals

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is tracking cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) infection in mammals to better understand a virus that some fear may spark another pandemic.

The United States is in the midst of the worst HPAI epizootic in the nation’s history. Infections in wild, commercial, and backyard birds have been identified in all but one U.S. state, Hawaii, and roughly 60 million chickens and turkeys have died as a result.

Of the four influenza virus types—A, B, C, and D—all can infect animals and type D is known to only infect humans. Influenza type A viruses include the highly pathogenic avian flu subtypes, such as H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2, as well as the swine flu subtypes H5N1 and H9N2. 

No known human-to-human spread has occurred with the H5N1 virus that is currently circulating in birds in the U.S. and globally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sporadic human cases of H5N1 reported with H5N1 viruses circulating in birds since 2021 have occurred following exposure to infected poultry.

On March 29, the USDA first published its data on cases of HPAI infections in mammals from 2022 to late March 2023. The H5N1 virus subtype was detected in numerous species: bobcat, black and brown bears, bottlenose dolphin, harbor and grey seals, mountain lion, red fox, raccoon, striped skunk, and more.

Susceptibility to HPAI varies by mammalian species and even by individual animal, as is the case for wild birds, explained Rebecca Poulson, PhD, assistant research scientist with the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine.

Wild mammals in which HPAI has been detected include many mesocarnivores that likely contracted the virus by eating HPAI-infected prey, Dr. Poulson continued. Behavior, diet, and previous exposure to influenza virus are among a complex set of factors to take into account.

“Spillover of HPAI from wild birds to mammals is not a simple process, with host, virus, and environmental factors at play,” she said. “And despite being well over a year into this wildlife disease outbreak in North America, continued emphasis on research and surveillance to answer these sorts of questions is critically important.”

Also unknown is just how virulent HPAI is to wild animals and if an infected animal can transmit the virus to offspring or other animals.

Many of these detections have been seemingly one-off events that have not persisted,” Dr. Poulson said. “However, there have been events among seals along the North Atlantic Coast and sea lions in Peru marked by a lot of HPAI-associated morbidity and mortality.”

Continued prioritization of sustained funding for surveillance and research to better understand HPAI in wildlife species is critical, according to Dr. Poulson.

“If we think about all the interfaces where wild birds, mammals, humans, and domestic animals overlap, the need to truly prioritize such work really becomes clear,” she said. “Better understanding HPAI transmission, persistence, and the genetic and phenotypic changes these viruses undergo the longer they are circulating in wild animals is key to being able to assess risk and make informed management decisions.”

by Buckrail @ RiverApril 25, 2023

JACKSON, Wyo. — In early April, a young mountain lion carcass found by a local Jackson Hole wildlife guide was confirmed by a brain PCR test to have died from avian influenza.

Avian influenza is also commonly referred to as bird flu, or H5N1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines bird flu as a virus that naturally spreads among wild aquatic birds and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species as well. Infected birds can shed avian influenza in their saliva, nasal secretions and feces. Both wild mammals and domesticated pets can become infected by eating dead infected birds or being in an environment contaminated with the virus.

Bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans, but the CDC has reported sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses ranging in severity from mild with no symptoms to severe resulting in death.

Despite the diagnosis and the potential for exposure, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) is not considering bird flu a major concern yet.

“It’s definitely still on our radar,” said Mark Gocke, public information specialist at WGFD. “We’re still continuing to monitor to see what the prevalence of it is.”

According to Jessica Jennings-Gaines, WGFD wildlife disease specialist, while there were dead geese reportedly in the area that the mountain lion was found, it’s still uncertain exactly how the cat was exposed. Some mammals appear to be more susceptible, but the low sample size has made it difficult to fully understand how the disease will impact Wyoming wildlife as a whole.

“We’re still trying to understand how this new strain of avian flu is going to affect different animals,” Jennings-Gaines said. “It’s hard to say for the state if this will be a big concern.”

But this case serves as a reminder that the bird flu is something that is present on the local landscape. While there are many big game carcasses to be found after the long, hard winter that Wyoming has seen, finding something like a dead mountain lion or a number of dead birds should be reported to WGFD.

“Anything that’s unusual, birds and things that you don’t typically see, we’d love to hear about and investigate that,” Gocke said.

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South Korea Dog Meat

Ju Yeongbong, an official at an association of dog farmers, center, shouts slogans with other members during a rally in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Dozens of dog farmers in South Korea rallied Tuesday to criticize the country’s first lady over her reported comments that support a possible ban on dog meat consumption. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

https://news.yahoo.com/farmers-rally-over-first-ladys-105852735.html

260

HYUNG-JIN KIM

Tue, April 25, 2023 at 3:58 AM PDT·3 min read

In this article:

• Yoon Suk-yeolSouth Korean politician, 13th President of South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Dozens of dog farmers in South Korea rallied Tuesday to criticize the country’s first lady over her reported comments that support a possible ban on dog meat consumption.

Eating dog is a centuries-old Korean practice. But there have been growing calls for outlawing it in South Korea as animal rights campaigns have influenced public perception and eating dog meat has fallen out of favor with most younger people.

In late 2021, a government-civilian committee was launched to reach a social consensus on ending dog meat consumption, but no breakthrough has been reported yet. Farmers demand authorities present more concrete compensation steps or allow them to maintain their businesses for about 15-20 years until older people, who are the main source of demand for the meat, die.

About 50 dog farmers gathered Tuesday near the office of President Yoon Suk Yeol to protest remarks made by his wife, Kim Keon Hee, during a private luncheon with animal rights activists earlier in April.

Some local media outlets reported Kim told the activists that she would effort an end to dog meat consumption for the duration of Yoon’s term, which ends in 2027. Dog farmers argued Kim isn’t entitled to make such a policy promise because she isn’t a government official. They also accused her of undermining their rights to their livelihoods and happiness.

Yoon’s office declined to confirm the contents of Kim’s conversation with the activists because their luncheon was organized as a closed-door meeting.

Attendee Jo Hee Kyung, who heads the Korean Animal Welfare Association, said Kim’s comments reported in the media were largely taken out of context. Jo said Kim did not discuss policies but rather expressed her personal hopes for the end of dog meat consumption during an informal meeting meant to cheer up animal rights activists. Jo said Kim told them that TV programs reporting animal abuses made her heart ache. She said they felt grateful to Kim for sharing her views backing a potential ban.

Kim and Yoon are known as pet lovers. They raise six dogs and five cats. Jo said Kim had long held interests in animal rights movements even before Yoon became president in 2022.

But Ju Yeongbong, an official at an association of dog farmers, said he believes that animals rights activists were trying to cover up Kim’s comments.

During the rally, farmers pumped their fists and chanted slogans demanding Kim withdraw her reported comments and the government formulate steps to support the farmers. “Guarantee our livelihoods! Guarantee!” they shouted.

They said they later visited a police station to file complaints against Kim for allegedly hurting their rights to maintain livelihoods, seek happiness and select jobs.

Chae IlTaek, an activist at the Korean Animal Welfare Association, called dog meat consumption “an anachronistic business” that should have been shut down.

About 1 million dogs are slaughtered for food annually in South Korea, a decrease from more than 3 million annually about 10-20 years ago, according to Ju.

Dog meat is neither legally protected nor explicitly banned in South Korea. During election campaigning, Yoon said he personally opposed dog meat consumption but formulating a policy on outlawing it would require a public consensus.