Enough Evidence to show Avian Flu has Spread from Different Sources: New Report
A new report by the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) unveiled that earlier it was believed that wild birds have caused the avian flu spread. But now, the service thinks that the virus is spreading in other ways as well.
As per the report, sharing of equipment between an infected and non-infected farm; employees moving between infected and non-infected farms; lack of cleaning and from vehicles moving between farms and reports of rodents inside the poultry houses.
USDA said, "APHIS found that air samples collected outside of infected poultry houses contain virus particles, indicating that the virus could be transmitted by air". Preliminary evaluation of wind data has also found a relationship between high winds and an increase in the number of infected farms around five days later.
The outbreak has spread to 15 states, but as per the USDA there is evidence that the spread has slowed. In Asia and Europe, the bird flu is quite common. It was astonishing to have the highly pathogenic bird flu in the US, and also, it is considered to be the worst outbreak ever in the nation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned people in the US hospitals and doctors to remain alert for people who may be infected with H5N2. Since 2013, H7N9 avian influenza has infected more than 620 people and killed 227 of them.