Bird flu has been circulating at a mink farm in Utah since August, according to a report by investigative news outlet ProPublica. The Guardian commentary by George Monbiot says public officials have done little to contain the outbreak and have not tested farm workers for symptoms or traced their contacts, despite their regular contact with the animals.
The commentary cites complaints from Utah’s agriculture department that farmers were annoyed by testing. It also reports that the state has not declared an emergency, with officials concerned that doing so could alert animal-rights groups. Utah state veterinarian Amanda Price described the outbreak as devastating for the farmer, while saying there were few options beyond waiting to see what happens, according to the article.
Monbiot argues that mink farms can provide conditions for flu viruses to exchange genetic material. Mink may encounter viruses through animal feed made from livestock offcuts and can host both avian and human flu viruses, the commentary says. It warns that a more transmissible variant could emerge, although human-to-human transmission of the current bird flu strain remains extremely low.
The article also notes the danger posed by H5N1 infections in people, citing a 48% fatality rate among known cases since 1997. It says the first US death from avian flu that year had been announced after the person contracted the virus from an infected dairy herd.
The commentary calls for mink farming to be banned and argues that livestock farming more broadly can amplify disease risks. It says mink farming alongside poultry, pig and dairy operations creates opportunities for viruses to spread and change, while criticizing proposals to let bird flu circulate through chicken flocks.
Sources: The Guardian Science.