Bird Flu threat persists across the US

Dec 31, 2024
By Farms.com

New H5N1 strain raises pandemic concerns

The ongoing spread of a novel bird flu strain, specifically the H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b, is causing alarm among public and animal health officials as it continues to infect various species, including the first reported cases in US swine.

This development heightens concerns that the virus could mutate into a form transmissible between humans, potentially triggering a pandemic.

Despite these fears, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the immediate risk to human health remains low. However, the variant's presence in dairy cattle suggests that just one additional mutation could enable human spread.

"The longer this virus circulates unchecked, the higher the likelihood it will acquire the mutations needed to cause a pandemic. We need to act urgently to prevent this scenario," stated Dr. Les Sims, a veteran in disease control.

The recent detection of H5N1 in noncommercial pigs on a farm in Oregon marks a significant development in the virus's spread, which has predominantly affected poultry and wild birds until now. Experts consider pigs as potential "mixing vessels" for creating new, virulent flu strains due to their susceptibility to multiple influenza viruses.

The USDA and CDC continue to emphasize the importance of stringent biosecurity measures to manage the spread of H5N1. These include enhanced surveillance, immediate culling of infected stocks, and ongoing public health advisories to limit human exposure to the virus.

As the situation evolves, the agricultural and health communities remain on high alert, working to mitigate the impact of this potentially devastating virus.

Video: How farmers are protecting the soil and our food security | DW Documentary

For a long time, soil was all but ignored. But for years, the valuable humus layer has been thinning. Farmers in Brandenburg are clearly feeling the effects of this on their sandy fields. Many are now taking steps to prepare their farms for the future.

Years of drought, record rainfall and failed harvests: we are becoming increasingly aware of how sensitively our environment reacts to extreme weather conditions. Farmers' livelihoods are at stake. So is the ability of consumers to afford food.

For a few years now, agriculture that focuses solely on maximum yields has been regarded with increasing skepticism. It is becoming more and more clear just how dependent we are on healthy soils.

Brandenburg is the federal state with the worst soil quality in Germany. The already thin, fertile humus layer has been shrinking for decades. Researchers and farmers who are keen to experiment are combating these developments and looking for solutions. Priority is being given to building up the humus layer, which consists of microorganisms and fungi, as well as springtails, small worms and centipedes.

For Lena and Philipp Adler, two young vegetable farmers, the tiny soil creatures are invaluable helpers. On their three-hectare organic farm, they rely on simple, mechanical weed control, fallow areas where the soil can recover, and diversity. Conventional farmer Mark Dümichen also does everything he can to protect soil life on his land. For years, he has not tilled the soil after the harvest and sows directly into the field. His yields have stabilized since he began to work this way.

Isabella Krause from Regionalwert AG Berlin-Brandenburg is convinced after the experiences of the last hot summers that new crops will thrive on Brandenburg's fields in the long term. She has founded a network of farmers who are promoting the cultivation of chickpeas with support from the scientific community.