To the editor,

H5N1 is a “call sign” for this strain of Influenza A type virus. It is used to watch for spread and mutations. They are watching for changes indicating person to person spread. Imagine the turmoil if that happened.

This highly pathogenic virus emerged in water birds in EVERY FLYWAY around the world in 1996 and has killed millions of wild birds and 40 plus mammal species can be infected. In 1997, 850 people in Southern China were diagnosed with H5N1 and there was a 50% mortality rate. Why should we care?

We live near a flyway. In March 2024, infection was discovered in dairy cows and Pierce County has dairies. In places where widespread testing of milk is happening, infection is found in the cow’s udders with a heavy “viral load.” Wisconsin will add raw milk testing to the usual testing schedule quite soon. Most infections in farm workers are eye infections right now because of the milking process.

Where infection is happening, the infected milk is being dumped in the manure ponds and then spread on fields. This is quite the buffet for cats, rodents and more which help further viral spread.

By September 2024, more than 100 million poultry in 48 states had been killed and poultry workers sickened and one dead in Louisiana. Reports are that farmers leave the barn of hens in the evening but when they return in the morning a large percentage of hens are dead or dying.

We, as a community, need to work together to protect ourselves and our farming businesses. If we test, pay attention to the news on bird flu, we can reduce infection.

Symptoms of H5N1: conjunctivitis, cough, fever, sore throat, vomiting, fatigue, muscle aches.

Dairy workers could wear PPE including goggles. and change clothes when leaving the barn. Wear disposable gloves when caring for bird feeders, keep cats indoors and don’t drink raw milk at this time.

Symptoms in cows: Reduced milk production, low appetite, clear nasal drainage, abnormal feces, and lethargy

Stay tuned!

Look for information from DHS, CDC, USDA, Universities of Minnesota, Wisconsin. Farmer organizations. We looked at medical journals.

Wendy Dart

Maiden Rock