this post was submitted on 18 Dec 2024
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cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/23282836

Summary

The CDC confirmed the first severe U.S. case of H5N1 bird flu in Louisiana, linked to exposure to sick and dead birds in a backyard flock.

This marks the first backyard flock-related case in the U.S., though 61 human cases of H5 bird flu have been reported since April 2024.

The virus belongs to the D1.1 genotype, found in wild birds and recent cases in Canada and the U.S.

There is no evidence of person-to-person spread, and public health risk remains low. The CDC advises precautions for those exposed to infected animals.

top 21 comments
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[–] m_f@midwest.social 30 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Kind of zen tbh. Not because it's not bad, but more because there's nothing I can do about it atm, and it's hard to accurately evaluate the risks involved. If cases start getting reported near me, I'll probably start wearing a mask in public spaces.

I know someone that isn't worried about future pandemics because of the success of mRNA vaccines with covid, but that seems too optimistic to me.

[–] mean_bean279@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago (1 children)

The first working Covid vaccine was developed around the same time most countries officially started locking down if I recall. mRNA vaccines definitely proved how fast we can accomplish this. I know the US at least was also heavily investing into vaccines for bird flu already since they deemed that to be the next threat.

Either way, I’m with you on the zen thing. It’s hard to worry, but given how fast our tech works now I’m not super freaked about it. Honestly I’m more worried about the government not letting me take the vaccine.

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 6 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Lockdown was in the spring of 2020.

The first covid vaccines started being administered in very late December 2020, but were initially in limited supply and were given to first responders and health care workers first, then priority was given to the immunocompromised. The vaccines weren't available to the general public until early March 2021, almost a year after lockdown.

In that first year, about 650,000 Americans died of covid - about one in every 500 people.

[–] mean_bean279@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

There’s a great 60 minutes interview with the husband and wife of BioNtech. They talked about having a vaccine in February already that was producing an immune response in mice and by May of 2020 they already started a trial. The speed that we went from first hearing about Covid, to lock down, to having a vaccine is and was incredible. The US already talked at one point about having bird flu vaccines made and stockpiling them for this exact reason.

Interview

[–] Sunshine@lemmy.ca -4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (2 children)

Stop supporting animal agriculture completely so you can avoid the risk of future pandemics entirely as having animals bunched up in filthy slaughter warehouses is not sanitary proven by the fact they use antibiotics.

Take the 30 day pledge to take better care of your health.

https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/take-vegan-pledge

[–] Sinthesis@lemmy.today 4 points 6 days ago

animal agriculture

I think you meant, animal husbandry. Animal agriculture makes no damn sense.

avoid the risk of future pandemics entirely

Nature just does this. There's no way to avoid this other than killing every living being that "travels"; plant, animal or microorganism. For example, look up the American Chestnut.

[–] commie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 6 days ago

didn't you try that?

[–] Protoknuckles@lemmy.world 17 points 6 days ago

I'm kinda fear-and-doom burnt out TBH.

[–] Supervisor194@lemmy.world 14 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I would be worried, but we've got a lot of really competent people coming to run the government, so it's all good!

[–] somtwo@lemmy.world 11 points 6 days ago
[–] marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works 12 points 6 days ago (1 children)

No, because there’s still no significant human-to-human spread. All human cases got it from exposure to birds or drinking raw milk from infected cows. I won’t worry about it until it mutates into something humans can spread easily to each other.

[–] shalafi@lemmy.world 3 points 6 days ago

My take as well. I have no shits to give until we see a mutation take off and go widespread. Global health authorities have eyes on this and they know far more than us lemmings.

[–] PhilipTheBucket@ponder.cat 11 points 6 days ago

Yes. I don't know what to do about it on a personal level, but H5N1 is more deadly than Covid and seems pretty much guaranteed to get loose and wreak havoc.

I think Covid gave us the idea that we can have a big pandemic but things can continue, I'll still get fed, nothing will collapse. Not every pandemic is like that.

[–] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 6 days ago

If I'm honest, I'm hoping for another lock down so I can just stay inside.

[–] MataVatnik@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago

I really enjoyed the lack of people on the roads the first time around. Would look forward to it.

[–] aramis87@fedia.io 5 points 6 days ago

I think it'll cross over eventually, but there isn't a lot I can do to stop it. I have pandemic supplies and excellent knowledge from the last one and will hopefully come through okay.

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 5 points 6 days ago (1 children)

There is a strategic stockpile of a bird flu vaccine, so no.

[–] Fredselfish@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

RKJ will recall that vaccine so don't count on that.

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 5 points 6 days ago

I still mask in public spaces and maybe a deadly pandemic will be less dangerous than an undistracted project 2025.

Meh.

[–] OpenStars@piefed.social 5 points 6 days ago

Gotta die sometime, right?

(not sure if /s or not here myself...)

[–] HulkSmashBurgers@reddthat.com 2 points 5 days ago

Pandemic 2 point O, viral boogaloo.