"Assessing the Risk: Bird Flu's Threat to Humans and Livestock"
Experts are closely monitoring the recent bird flu infection in a Texas dairy worker, emphasizing that the virus has not become more contagious among cows or people. The CDC states that currently available vaccines and medicines remain effective against it, and the risk to the general public is low. While the virus has not shown sustained spread between people, concerns remain about potential mutations and transmission among mammals. Genetic sequencing of virus samples from cows and the infected patient suggests that the virus is closely related to birds and not thoroughly adapted to mammal-to-mammal transmission. Understanding how cows transmit the virus is crucial in preventing further spread, and pasteurized milk is safe to drink as the process kills the virus.