All articles tagged with #alpacas
Llamas and alpacas are both camelids native to the Americas, with llamas being larger, having coarse hair, and used as pack animals, while alpacas are smaller, with fine, silky wool and bred mainly for textiles. They differ in size, appearance, temperament, and historical use, but are often confused due to their similar appearance.
Bird flu has been detected in alpacas for the first time on a farm in Idaho, where poultry had previously been infected. The USDA confirmed the virus is the same H5N1 strain found in dairy cattle outbreaks across nine states. While the risk to humans remains low, public health officials warn that the virus could mutate to facilitate easier transmission between species or people.
A bird flu outbreak in Iowa has led to the culling of 4.2 million chickens, while the virus has also been detected in alpacas for the first time. The CDC has reported two human cases in 2024, both with mild symptoms. The virus has spread to various animals, including dairy cows and barn cats, across multiple states. Despite the outbreak, pasteurized dairy and properly cooked poultry products remain safe for consumption.
Four alpacas in Idaho have tested positive for H5N1 bird flu, marking the first known cases in this species. The alpacas were in close contact with infected poultry, and the virus strain matches those found in US dairy cows and birds. This finding underscores the virus's ability to spread to various mammals, raising concerns about potential human transmission.
The USDA has confirmed the first cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) in alpacas on a farm in Idaho, where poultry had previously tested positive. The virus found in alpacas is closely related to the H5N1 strain circulating in dairy cattle. This development raises concerns about the virus's potential to infect a broader range of mammals and possibly humans, although no person-to-person transmission has been reported in the current US outbreak.
The USDA confirmed highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in alpacas at an Idaho farm, marking the first detection in alpacas. The virus, also found in poultry on the same farm, has been detected in 4 of the farm's 18 alpacas. Additionally, H5N1 was reported in feral cats in New Mexico and another dairy herd in Michigan, contributing to a total of 67 dairy herd detections across nine states.