Seroprevalence of HPAI A(H5) Identified in Bovine Veterinary Practitioners
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Feb. 14, 2025 -- Seroprevalence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infection has been identified among bovine veterinary practitioners, according to research published in the Feb. 13 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Noting that the current outbreak of HPAI A(H5) clade 2.3.4.4.b viruses, genotype B3.13 was first detected among dairy cattle in March 2024, with human cases identified among dairy workers in April, Jerome Leonard, M.D., M.P.H., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues examined the prevalence of HPAI A(H5) infection among 150 U.S. bovine veterinary practitioners.
The researchers found that 55 percent of survey participants practiced in states with HPAI A(H5) virus-positive dairy herds and 17 percent worked with dairy cattle with known or suspected infections. Three survey participants (2 percent) had antibodies to HPAI A(H5), indicative of recent HPAI A(H5) infection. There were no reported respiratory or influenza-like symptoms, including conjunctivitis, among the practitioners with positive serology results. All three provided care to multiple animals, including dairy cattle. None worked with dairy cattle with known or suspected HPAI A(H5) infection, but one worked with poultry positive for HPAI A(H5). Two reported practicing in multiple states and two practiced in states with known HPAI A(H5) infection among cattle. One reported providing care only in Georgia and South Carolina, which had not previously reported HPAI A(H5) infection in dairy cattle. All participants reported wearing gloves or a clothing cover when providing veterinary care to cattle; none reported wearing respiratory or eye protection.
"These findings suggest that there might be HPAI A(H5) virus-infected dairy cattle in states where infection in dairy cattle has not yet been identified," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted February 2025
Read this next
Advanced Biological Age Linked to Increased Risk for Incident Dementia
FRIDAY, May 2, 2025 -- Advanced biological age (BA) may be a risk factor for incident dementia, according to a study published online April 30 in Neurology. Yacong Bo, Ph.D...
Exposure to Smoke Pollution Ups Risk for Hospitalization for Respiratory Disease
FRIDAY, May 2, 2025 -- For older adults in the Western United States, exposure to high levels of smoke pollution is associated with an increase in hospitalizations for respiratory...
Exercise Helps Reduce Side Effects From Cancer Treatment
THURSDAY, May 1, 2025 -- Exercise mitigates adverse outcomes associated with cancer and its treatments, according to a review published online April 29 in the British Journal...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.