First Case of Bird Flu Not Directly Linked to Sick Animals is Found in Missouri

Sep 09, 2024

By Juliana Kim

Health officials have identified a person in Missouri sick with bird flu despite having no known contact with animals — marking the first case of the virus in the U.S. this year not linked to farm work.

Bird flu has been slowly spreading across the nation's farms since the beginning of spring. So far, there have been 14 human cases of the virus. All the patients — except the one from Missouri — had been linked to sick dairy cows or poultry.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday that the Missouri patient was hospitalized and treated with influenza antiviral medications. The patient has since recovered and been discharged. The agency added that the virus did not appear to have spread to the patient's close contacts.

Aside from Missouri, human cases have been reported in Texas, Michigan and Colorado. At least 196 dairy cattle herds as well as 56 commercial and backyard poultry flocks have been infected nationwide, according to the CDC.

There are no known bird flu outbreaks in cattle in Missouri, the CDC said. But there have been outbreaks in commercial and backyard poultry flocks in the state this year. In previous years, bird flu has been detected in wild birds in that state.

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Video: You Be The Judge: Evaluating 8 Breeding Rams!

It's time for some honest feedback here at Ewetopia Farms! Today, we’re showing you all eight rams we used for breeding this year. Instead of just presenting them, we thought it would be fun to create a “Ram Report Card” — where we point out both their strengths and areas for improvement.

But here’s the twist: you be the judge! In the comments, let us know what you like about each ram and what you think could be improved. No ram is ever perfect, but every one of them brings something valuable to the flock. By sharing perspectives, we all learn more about what to look for in good breeding stock.

At Ewetopia Farms, we raise registered Suffolk and Polled Dorset sheep, focusing on high-quality genetics, structure, and friendly temperaments. Evaluating breeding rams is part of the bigger picture of building stronger flocks — and we’re excited to share the process with you.

If you enjoy seeing how we evaluate our animals, follow along by subscribing to our channel. We share daily insights into the joys and challenges of sheep farming here in Canada.