00:00In recent months, the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus has made an unprecedented leap into U.S. cattle herds,
00:07making a concerning escalation in a global outbreak that began resurfacing in Europe in 2020.
00:14The virus, which has devastated bird populations and caused significant mortality among sea lions and seals in South America,
00:21is now posing a new threat as it spreads among cows, reports Business Insider.
00:25This development, turned by the World Health Organization chief scientist Jeremy Farrar as an animal pandemic, has raised alarm bells among experts.
00:35Genetic fragments of the virus found in grocery store milk indicate that the outbreak may be more widespread than initially thought,
00:42prompting concerns about potential human exposure.
00:45While pasteurization likely deactivates pathogens, including H5N1, according to the FDA,
00:52ongoing studies are evaluating its effectiveness, especially against this strain.
00:57Despite one confirmed human case in Texas with minimal symptoms, there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
01:04However, the possibility of future mutations that could enhance human transmission remains a significant concern.
01:10Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams warns of parallels to the early days of COVID-19, citing unclear leadership and messaging.
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