"Low Risk of Bird Flu Spillover to Humans in Cows and Chickens"
An outbreak of avian influenza, or bird flu, is affecting dairy cows in the U.S., raising concerns about potential risks to humans. While the virus has shown minor genetic changes and one human infection, human-to-human spread remains rare. Scientists are closely monitoring the outbreak's impact on mammals and the potential for problematic mutations. Existing bird flu vaccines could be adapted in case of human spread, and federal health officials stress that the U.S. has been preparing for avian flu outbreaks for over 20 years.