The highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 continues to spread in the United States. According to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on July 12, there are suspected cases of H5 avian influenza virus infection in three people in Colorado. Countries are now strengthening surveillance to prevent a widespread epidemic.
H5N1 is a highly pathogenic subtype of the influenza A virus, characterized by hemagglutinin type 5 and neuraminidase type 1. The H5N1 virus can cause death in humans and some other animals. There have been cases of “cow-to-human” transmission, with scientists detecting the H5N1 virus in 145 cattle herds across more than a dozen states and in four farm workers in the United States. Researchers believe there may be more undetected cases of infection in both cattle and humans.
The summer heat and flooding season in the United States create an optimal environment for the virus to thrive. Additionally, poor sanitary conditions at farms, workers’ lack of relevant expertise, and inadequate management further complicate the control of avian influenza.
Effective control measures require the U.S. government to take the situation seriously, from addressing the virus at its source, treating infected individuals, to researching preventive vaccines, all of which demand significant effort. As the United States is currently in a critical election period, the control of this epidemic presents a significant challenge for the authorities.