“There is no reason to panic, but it’s good to be aware of it,” he added.
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned health care providers to watch for signs of bird flu infection. So far, only two Americans have been reported as infected with H5N1, one in 2022 and the other earlier this month.
The virus has caused large outbreaks in mink and foxes, and wiped out thousands of marine mammals, especially in South America. Scientists have tracked the virus along migratory routes and stopovers, among wild birds in rural areas and commercial poultry operations and, most recently, among cattle on dairy farms.
But by now, the virus “is everywhere,” said Seema Lakdawala, a virologist at Emory University. “I would be surprised if in any urban environment you went into, you didn’t find some small percentage of H5.”
“This is an important lesson for all big cities,” she added.
Migratory birds and other species live in urban green spaces and wetlands, where they may encounter scavengers, like squirrels, pets and even people. Cats and dogs are susceptible to the bird flu virus and can acquire it from infected birds, their feces or contaminated water.
“People don’t think there’s much wildlife in New York City, but we’re really quite rich,” said Rita McMahon, director and co-founder of the nonprofit Wild Bird Fund, a wildlife rehabilitation center in New York City.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
