[blueyes]

Equally important: the cats died days later.

Here's a good map of the bird flu breakouts.

https://investigatemidwest.org/2025/01/21/134m-poultry-and-c...

Most people are not paying enough attention to this.

Another real danger arises with the so-called "mixing vessel phenomenon," which occurs when different virus strains infect the same host simultaneously, particularly in the context of influenza viruses.

This primarily happens in animals like pigs, which can be infected by both avian and human influenza strains. When multiple virus strains infect the same cells, their genetic material can undergo reassortment - where segments of genetic material from different viruses combine to create new viral variants.

So a corona variant could mix with this fast-spreading avian flu and produce something that impacts humans more.

Viruses are like drunken teenagers -- they behave worse when they mix!

[DoodahMan]

Indeed. I'm particularly getting concerned about co-infection leading to genes being swapped - short-circuiting the evolution needed to adapt to humans. The CDC reported this year's flu season is at the highest levels since 2009 [0]. A CDC study released in November showed ~7% of dairy workers who participated had evidence of recent H5N1 infection. Now we find out that the D1.1 variant that killed a person in Louisiana and sent a teenager in Canada into a coma is in cows [2]. That variant has the PB2 D701N mutation that's associated with mammalian adaptation.

I've been following this thing since February 2023, and it for sure feels like it's getting closer. I see you too are paying attention - cheers.

[0] https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flu-levels-highest-since-2009-p...

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/73/wr/mm7344a3.htm

[2] https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/05/health/bird-flu-cattle-nevada...

[klipt]

America just appointed an anti-vaccer as Health Secretary.

I don't think the next virus breakout is going to go well.

[egberts1]

CBSNEws: only a handful of human cases have been confirmed from bird flu in the U.S

Two is hot a handful.