Pneumonia in Immunocompromised Patients: Overview, Causes of Pneumonia, HIV/AIDS
Md. Agriculture Dept. Urges Cattle, Poultry Owners To Boost 'biosecurity' Amid Bird Flu Outbreak
Photo by Josh Kurtz.Following a recent human case of H5N1 identified in Texas, commonly known as "bird flu," the Maryland Department of Agriculture is placing restrictions on cattle movement and transportation in order to prevent bird flu from spreading into the state. The department is also urging poultry and livestock owners to up their biosecurity measures.
As the name implies, avian or bird flu is typically found in birds, though there have been cases identified in mammals as well. But for the first time, H5N1 has been identified in herds of cattle across the United States, raising flags for public health officials.
Cases of avian flu have been detected in dairy cows located in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Idaho, Ohio, North Carolina and New Mexico, but have not yet been identified in Maryland.
That said, the Maryland Department of Agriculture wants cattle and poultry owners to up their "biosecurity measures" to prevent the virus from spreading into the state, according to an announcement Wednesday.
Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks issued an order restricting the movement and transfer of cattle from another state that has had a "confirmed detection" of avian flu except under certain conditions. The order will be effective through May 29, unless revoked sooner.
The department urges owners of poultry and cattle to stay vigilant for signs of illness and to notify state agriculture officials if they suspect one of their animals has contracted bird flu.
A recent post from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health explains that "what's sparking concern among scientists and public health officials alike is the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows and the subsequent infection of a dairy farm employee — the second person in America ever documented to be infected with H5N1."
"The virus has now spread to 16 herds in six states according to the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), fueling concerns about potential further transmission to humans," the article said.
The risk of transmission through the consumption of commercial diary milk is low as the product is pasteurized before being sold, according to the Maryland Department of Agriculture.
The advisory is primarily for poultry and livestock owners, and emphasized that current risk for the general public is low.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that there have been two cases of H5N1 identified among humans within the United States, the recent Texas case and a case identified in Colorado two years ago. The severity of human infections range from "no symptoms or mild illness to severe disease that resulted in death." Symptoms can include fever, coughs, sore throat, body aches, fatigue or even pneumonia.
To avoid coming in contact with the virus, the CDC says that people should avoid exposures to sick or dead animals.
Farmers, workers and veterinarians should have proper personal protective equipment "when in direct contact with sick or dead birds or other animals, carcasses, feces, or litter from potentially infected birds or other animals," the CDC says.
The CDC notes that the general public can still eat "properly handled and cooked poultry." Eggs and poultry products cooked to an internal temperature of 165˚F kills bacteria and viruses, including bird flu viruses, the CDC advises.
Last week, the CDC urged state health and agriculture officials to be prepared to respond if the situation begins to pose a greater risk to public health.
The agency recommended "that state public health officials engage with their state veterinarians and agriculture department officials to ensure that they have up-to-date operational plans to respond to avian influenza at the state level."
RepublishWhy Chick-fil-A Is Allowing Antibiotics In Chicken And How It May Affect You
Fast food chain Chick-fil-A has updated its no-antibiotics-in-chicken pledge.
The brand announced that due to supply chain shortages, they are shifting from "No Antibiotics Ever (NAE) to No Antibiotics Important To Human Medicine (NAIHM)."
The changes will come into effect in spring.
On its website, Chick-fil-A explains that "No Antibiotics ever" means no antibiotics of any kind were used in raising the animal.
Meanwhile, "NAIHM restricts the use of those antibiotics that are important to human medicine and commonly used to treat people, and allows the use of animal antibiotics only if the animal and those around it were to become sick."
Despite this change, Chick-fil-A says, "We are constantly evaluating our approach to animal well-being to ensure it is consistent with or exceeds industry standards."
Antibiotics are often used in livestock production to stave off disease in animals and promote rapid weight gain.
However, there are concerns that the practice contributes to drug resistance and other health issues in humans.
Nutritionist GQ Jordan says it's "quite disheartening" to see Chick-fil-A reversing its commitment to never use antibiotics in chicken.
"This decision might not just affect them but could encourage a shift in the entire industry away from prioritizing the well-being of animals and the health of consumers," she points out.
Jordan says that the use of antibiotics in livestock production has "significant" negative effects for both animal welfare and human health and describes these risks as "real" and growing."
The most pressing health concern, in her opinion, is the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
"These are bacteria that have evolved the ability to survive even when exposed to antibiotics, leading to infections in humans that are increasingly difficult to treat," Jordan explains.
In essence, this resistance could bring with it a future where many of our current antibiotics lose their effectiveness.
Emma Shafqat, a pediatric dietitian, shares similar concerns.
"There are already certain strains of bacteria that are now resistant to many different types of antibiotics, for example, MRSA, Clostridium difficile, and the bacteria that causes multi-drug resistant tuberculosis," she says.
"However, the biggest concern is that new strains of bacteria will develop, and we will not be able to treat them."
Another issue is the effect antibiotics have on the gut.
"Antibiotics dramatically upset the composition of the gut microbiota, reduce short-chain fatty acid availability, and alter glucose homeostasis," says Shafqat.
Jordan agrees.
"The delicate ecosystem of the gut – known as the gut microbiome – plays a key role in our immune response, digestion, and even our mental health, due to the gut-brain axis," she says. "Disruptions here can lead to a host of health issues, from increased infection susceptibility to changes in mood and cognitive function."
Shafqat says it's difficult to say just how serious the risk antibiotic-raised meat is to human health and believes more research is needed.
However, she points to an older review published in 2004 that noted that antibiotic-resistant bacteria from food animals exposed to antibiotics could spread via food to humans and cause human infections but stated that the actual danger was small.
You might be wondering what the alternative is. If you're a meat-eater and plan on remaining so, how do you know how your meat was raised? And is there a way to reduce your consumption of antibiotic-raised meat specifically?
Shafqat says there is no reliable way for consumers to avoid buying food produced with irresponsible antibiotic use.
However, if you're going to eat meat, opting for grass-fed, organic, and free-range meat, whether it's chicken, beef, turkey, or pork, may be a better choice.
When buying meat at the supermarket, there are specific labels for which to look.
"If you're looking to avoid meat from animals treated with antibiotics, look for labels like "Raised Without Antibiotics" or organic certifications," Jordan advises.
"These products are more likely to come from animals that weren't given antibiotics, offering a safer choice," she explains.
If you regularly eat at chain restaurants, like Chick-fil-A, for example, it might be worth doing your research before you visit.
Check out the restaurant's website to find out how the meat they use is raised.
It's common practice in livestock production for animals to be treated with antibiotics.
However, the health effects on humans may have potentially serious side effects.
Over time, exposure to antibiotic-raised meat may contribute to antibiotic resistance, meaning illnesses are harder to treat. It can also impact your gut.
To reduce these risks, you can opt for grass-fed, free-range meat that has been raised without antibiotics instead.
Reasons Not To Hug, Snuggle Or Kiss Chicks And Chickens
Your browser is not supportedwisfarmer.Comwisfarmer.Com wants to ensure the best experience for all of our readers, so we built our site to take advantage of the latest technology, making it faster and easier to use.
Unfortunately, your browser is not supported. Please download one of these browsers for the best experience on wisfarmer.Com
Comments
Post a Comment