The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed the first case of H5N1 bird flu in a pig in the United States.
USDA issued a statement on Oct. 30 that said the infected pig was discovered at a backyard farm in Crook County, Oregon, where it shared space with poultry that had previously tested positive for the virus.
The department said the farm, which houses a mix of poultry and livestock, has been placed under quarantine to prevent the virus from spreading further.
The infected pig and four others on the property were euthanized to facilitate additional diagnostic analysis to check for the virus. “Test results were negative for two of the pigs, and test results are still pending for two others,” the statement said.
The farm is not a commercial operation, so there is no threat to the national pork supply, according to the announcement.
Virus Could Potentially Adapt
Some health experts have warned that the latest developments show that the virus could adapt and become a more significant threat to humans.
“Pigs can be infected with multiple types of flu, and the animals can play a role in making bird viruses better adapted to humans,” Jennifer Nuzzo, a pandemic researcher at Brown University, told The Associated Press.
Nuzzo said it’s important to monitor the situation closely.
“If we’re trying to stay ahead of this virus and prevent it from becoming a threat to the broader public, knowing if it’s in pigs is crucial,” she said.
Others, including Troy Sutton, a flu virus researcher at Penn State, said there is no need for immediate panic.
“It isn’t a one-to-one relationship, where pigs get infected with viruses and they make pandemics,” Sutton said. He added that while the Oregon pig infection “is noteworthy … it doesn’t change the calculation of the threat level.”
Risk Remains Low
Genetic tests have also been conducted on the farm’s poultry to check for any possible mutations of the virus, but none have been found. As a result, officials maintain that the current risk to the public remains low.
Local and federal agencies, including the Oregon Department of Health, Oregon State Veterinarian, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, are coordinating efforts in the investigation. They promised to provide updates as new findings come in.
USDA also emphasized the importance of strong biosecurity measures to eliminate the virus and has reminded farm owners and workers on how to access financial assistance to pay for biosecurity measures and personal protective equipment for farmworkers, which can be found on the agency’s website.
In response to the ongoing threat of H5N1, the department said it continues to “invest heavily” in vaccine research and development to stop the virus’s spread among animals. It said it has already approved two vaccine field safety trials for potential vaccines that would work with cows and is exploring vaccine options for other species.
So far in 2024, nearly 40 human cases of H5N1 have been reported in various U.S. states, including California, Colorado, Washington, Michigan, Texas, and Missouri. Most of these cases resulted in mild symptoms, mostly eye redness, and all but one of the infected individuals had been in contact with infected animals.