A Michigan dairy worker has been diagnosed with bird flu — the second human case associated with an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.
The male worker had been in contact with cows at a farm with infected animals. He experienced mild eye symptoms and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan health officials said in announcing the case Wednesday.
A nasal swab from the person tested negative for the virus, but an eye swab tested Tuesday was positive for bird flu, “indicating an eye infection,” U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said.
TIL that influenza virions can be stick-shaped.
1990s hyperactive kids’ snack commercial announcer
“Influenza virions! Now in cool, new shapes!”
Kid: “Awesome!”
Before we get into discussing major societal shifts like getting Americans to stop eating animals and animal products (I’m sorry, it’s not going to happen any time soon), all that has to be done here is to regulate that dairy farmers wear gloves. Seriously. That’s it. They’re not being provided with or made to wear gloves.
I think there’s a larger conversation than just providing gloves. Look at Bovine TB in the UK, or the first H1N1 outbreak in the early aughts.
We need to address the welfare of not only the laborers, but also the animals. 10 will get you 20 that this can be traced back to Tyson and it’s horrible requirements for housing and butchering chickens.
A LOT more needs to be regulated than just wearing gloves.
I agree on general terms. I am talking about a quick solution to preventing transmission of this strain to dairy workers. I don’t know about this case, but in the first case, the farm worker was on a farm that did not require gloves. Viruses can’t be transmitted through gloves.
It can however be transmitted from the cows coughing, through shared water, and through their raw milk. These workers need water proof pants, slathered in Iodoform, boot covers, masks, and gloves. The milking carousel needs to be sanitized, their hay may even need to be under a UV lamp. It’s a lot of work, it’s necessary work, but it’s a LOT more than just gloves.
We do agree that even the simplistic measures of masks and gloves aren’t being taken and that is egregious.
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Yes, that’s the reason for the boot covers and water proof pants. I forgot to add that to my reply.
I agree with you, but people around here just seem to think huge societal changes can be brought about overnight and aren’t interested in the quick regulations we can actually get implemented overnight like, like mask and glove requirements.
Com’on people we can get quick fixes implemented…quickly…while working towards those large changes
And masks. Influenza is transmitted via wet transmission like coughing or sneezing as well as goopy puddles that require gloves. In general the workers need more protections. And as outbreaks becomes more common, this should become an industry standard.
Animal ag needs to end 🤷
