If you've ever had trouble explaining to people why climate change is not just important but *urgent*, this video with some old guy might be useful.

Confirmation of asymptomatic H5N1 infection from a lung tissue sample. Should really ramp up testing of cows without clinical signs.

Thijs Kuiken Dr. Angela Rasmussen Tom Peacock Florian Krammer Michael Worobey Marion Koopmans, publications: https://pure.eur.nl

usda.gov/media/press-re…

aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/…

So, *preliminary* molecular clock analyses indicate that the time of the most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) of the US cattle flu clade was late December.

TMRCA of that clade and the closest relatives in birds, mid-December.

If single intro, likely between those rough dates.

Great summary from Dr. Angela Rasmussen of the past 48 hours around milk and initial #HPAI spillover. More data urgently needs to be shared #collaborativesurveillance #OneHealth

Article - US: ' #H5N1 bird flu virus particles found in pasteurized milk but FDA says commercial milk supply appears safe', by Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 & others flutrackers.com/forum/forum/th… h/t Mary Wilson

This isn't good, folks.
I'm not worried about H5N1 transmission to humans (yet) but the Dept. of Agriculture pathetic lack of transparency, how long it took for the genomes to be released, lack of testing asymptomatic cattle......
All detracts from 'confidence'

Here's a visual of the US H5N1 'Cattle clade', HA plus two internal genes.

Strongly suggests to me there was single origin, at least for these sequences.

Possibly in late 2023/early 2024.

Jeremy Farrar Michael Worobey that is retrospective. If this virus is 'on the move' key priority is transparant discussion on what is happening, including validation or debunking of wastewater signal. No time for politeness or turf wars

Virus more widespread than what’s reported, has likely been circulating in cattle for some time before recognised in February. Must modernise surveillance systems to integrate animal & human health ⁦The Telegraph⁩ ⁦Dr. Gerald Parker⁩ telegraph.co.uk/global-health/…

The hypocrisy is simply staggering, more so as negotiators in Geneva discuss PABS in the framework of a possible #Pandemicaccord #inb9 #OneHealth

Excellent comprehensive summary of presumed H5N1 mammal to mammal transmissions. Thanks Tom Peacock

It's been getting on for a year since I wrote this thread - heres a bit of an update of where we are with the evidence for mammal-to-mammal transmission of H5N1s.
twitter.com/PeacockFlu/sta…

Review on emergence of HPAI affecting avian and mammalian wildlife around the globe.
👉avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/…

Rick Bright Dept. of Agriculture It looks like Dept. of Agriculture_APHIS updated their #H5N1 FAQs y'day & added that they now have evidence that there's been transmission 'FROM dairy cattle BACK into nearby poultry premises through an unknown route.'
aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/…

Thijs Kuiken Helen Branswell 🇨🇦
#HPAI #AvianFlu

New research published in Nature today finds that we are on track for climate damages worth $38 trillion per year by 2050. This is a staggering figure. The damages are projected to be worth 6x more than the mitigation costs of limiting global warming to 2C.

Various countries have revealed that #Veterinary Services were only included in less than half of whole-of-government frameworks for emergencies & disasters. The involvement of Veterinary Services in countering emerging threats is essential to ensuring global security.

SARS-CoV-2 has nothing to do with gain-of-function research or Anthony Fauci; this we know 💯% certain.

The remaining uncertainties on the origins question are narrow and exclude any #lableak idea; but strongly point towards the wildlife industry

Source: protagonist-science.com/p/treacherous-…

Grateful for Dept. of Agriculture to finally share some #H5N1 flu virus sequences from a few of the cats in the ongoing / widespread outbreak in the food supply across the US (dairy, poultry)

Very oddly, they have chosen to hide the location of infected cats and when viruses were collected. No

Really? Can someone confirm this: 'California Dept of Food and Agriculture is now asking farmers to be on the lookout for sick birds and mammals, and to take steps to humanely remove migrating birds and waterfowl' Calif Food and Ag Los Angeles Times latimes.com/environment/st… #OneHealth #HPAI

Crazy! No single entity coordinates, tracks and shares information on this pathogen affecting wildlife, livestock, and public health. We urgently need a collaborative, de-siloed approach across sectors and disciplines, locally and globally. #OneHealth #collaborativesurveillance