Is bird flu spreading in YOUR state? CDC launches new dashboard so you can track where H5N1 is increasing in wastewater

The CDC today launched a new dashboard that could reveal whether bird flu is spreading in your area.

The dashboard relies on wastewater samples that tested positive for type A influenza viruses, such as the H5N1 strain that infects livestock on U.S. dairy farms.

The data is presented in a map and compares positive tests to the same time last year to look for increases. Scientists say these increases do not necessarily mean bird flu has spread to humans, because type A flus are “common” in humans and account for about 75% of all cases.

But it is hoped that over the next few months the dashboard will show where H5N1 is most prevalent, as seasonal flu is normally low at this time of year.

The maps above show locations that have reported high levels of flu over the past two weeks for which data is available.

In the two weeks of data available, one place in Kansas – a state that is seeing an outbreak of the virus in cattle – showed increases, for example.

Illinois and Florida are the other states experiencing high levels of influenza A.

Overall, both states are not seeing increases in flu levels, although increases have been detected in some counties.

Experts say sudden increases in local areas may be linked to late-season outbreaks or unusually cold weather, which may cause people to spend more time indoors, where the flu is more likely. to spread.

It may also be due to more testing compared to the same period last year, they suggest, leading to more cases being detected.

CDC officials say the dashboard can’t determine where the virus in wastewater is coming from, saying it could come from humans, animals or products like infected milk.

But the agency says testing will be done when increases are detected to determine if H5N1 is involved.

This follows reports from veterinarians that a number of farmers on farms with infected cattle were sick but were not coming forward for testing.

Officials also revealed they had struggled to encourage farmers to get tested for the virus – fearing it could impact their farms.

Bird flu viruses feared could spread from livestock to humans (stock)

Last week, the USDA announced it would pay $28,000 to each of the farms to allow on-site officials to test cattle for bird flu, in an effort to encourage more people to come forward.

Amy Kirby, head of the CDC’s wastewater team, told STAT that testing was also ordered after some sites detected an unusual increase in family A influenza viruses.

The increases were very site-specific, she said, calling them a “very limited phenomenon.”

Authorities are currently testing for influenza A viruses, a family of flu viruses that can infect both humans and animals. Other members of this group include swine flu, or H1N1, and a type that can circulate in dogs and humans, or H3N2.

They differ from Influenza B viruses, a family of these viruses that can only circulate between people.

The latest map, for the week of April 30 to May 4, shows one location in Kansas had higher than normal levels of influenza A virus.

Over the past week, three sites, including one in Florida and another in Illinois, also reported spikes — although none detected the virus in cattle.

The disease was also seen at above-average levels in parts of Texas over the past week, including in the Texas Panhandle, where the infected cattle are located.

A total of 674 sites are included on the map, although in the last week only 230 reported wastewater data.

This comes amid an outbreak in livestock that has so far sickened 42 herds in more than nine states.

Some experts fear, however, that this is an underestimate, as many farmers refuse to have their animals tested.