Cows Have Been Infected with a Second Form of Bird Flu

Dairy cows in Nevada have been infected with a new form of bird flu that is distinct from the version that has been spreading through herds over the last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The finding indicates that the virus, known as H5N1, has spilled from birds into cows at least twice and that it could continue to do so. It also suggests that the virus may pose a persistent risk to cows and to the people who work closely with them. Scott Hensley, MD, a professor of Microbiology, explained how the mutations impose a risk for individuals who work closely with livestock, and could enable the virus to mutate to spread between humans.