US: More than 23 mammal species are infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus

The H5N1 strain of influenza A has been detected in 23 mammal species, including deer mice, house mice, desert cottontail rabbits, prairie voles, raccoons, striped skunks, red foxes, mountain lions, bobcats, and black bears. The USDA also warns that the H5N1 virus can cause infection and even death in these mammals. Dairy cows raised on farms in the US Currently, avian influenza has not been reported to be able to spread between people, and it is not certain that the virus will evolve in that direction. However, experts warn that the disease is evolving and expanding to previously unaffected animal species, even spreading to pets that can transmit the disease to humans. The US Department of Agriculture said that special attention should be paid to domestic cats, because they are the animals that can transmit the virus to humans. USDA has been closely monitoring the situation since March and reporting findings to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). See also US: ...