H5N1 has decimated chicken flocks and is getting worse, has infected 75% of California cattle herds, and now is spreading in black rats—highly mobile creatures that can rapidly spread the virus throughout the animal kingdom and even to humans. A CDC report suggested it is likely already spreading in humans. Glad the USDA isn’t distracted by the random firing of scientists working on the virus who don’t want to come back now. Bird flu found in California rats as USDA scrambles to rehire scientists The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed H5N1 bird flu in four black rats in Riverside County, California this week. The rats were discovered in late January near two recently affected poultry farms, marking the first detection in rats since 2021. Newsweek reached out to the USDA via email on Saturday for comment. Why It Matters Black rats, typically found in urban environments, represent a new transmission risk because they can spread the virus through multiple pathways: droppings, urine, blood, and saliva. Their mobility between farms and residential areas could accelerate the virus's spread to both humans and their pets. Additionally, the USDA said last week that it mistakenly fired officials involved in the federal response to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak. In a statement sent to Newsweek, the agency said it is working "swiftly" to reverse the dismissals.
Why would anyone go back to these government jobs when they now realize the king and his vice king will fire them on a whim? Hint, they won't go back
just mask up and stay 6 feet away and all will be good...but just in case, lets start up warp speed 2.0
Eh, it’s just California. If they’d properly washed all their chickens, cattle and rats, none of this would have happened. Clearly Newsom’s fault. And Harris’s
It will be interesting to see how important this is to the federal government, given that it appears that the currently most impacted areas are blue states. California will have to give Trump and Musk some minerals in order to receive federal assistance? Tax breaks for Tesla? Perhaps CA will have to change election laws to favor Republicans? And also, as always; are we certain yet that this issue wasn't caused by DEI? Hopefully they're looking into that...
The Federal Government under Trump appears to be an instrument of criminal coercion. Ric Grenell, a longtime ally of President Trump, said “there will be conditions” to the coming aid, echoing previous warnings from both men in recent days. Grenell said the California Coastal Commission “needs to absolutely be defunded.” WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is planning to set conditions on federal disaster assistance to Los Angeles as it rebuilds from the Eaton and Palisades fires, a top aide to the president said Friday... Top Trump aide says conditions on federal aid to L.A. will target California Coastal Commission
Another Trump term, another Trump plague. Hey MAGA! Time to stock up on the bleach to drink, hydroxychloroquine, and of course your urine to consume at a later time just like those YouTube doctors told you to do.
Trump just can't stand not having a pandemic he can fumble through and end up killing a million Americans. Also if masks don't work, then make sure to tell the surgeon the next time you have an operation and see how that turns out!
I see City gonna City and do his daily whole cloth making sh-t up again and mariachi band will contribute City. - it’s a super spreader Another poster. It’s another Plague. Quick grab your masks. CDC- risk is low to humans H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures masks hysteria and lunacy…. CDC- There is no known person-to-person spread at this time.
So this virus could wipe out all domesticated animals. That could force all of us to become vegans with a little fish on the side. That sounds like a positive thing for our health. Go Trump/Musk.
we have to believe this guy when he says masks don’t work… he’s the secretary at a dentists office, after all. I beat his superior wears a mask all the time, though, and he can’t figure out why.
Since 2003 there have been 954 human cases of H5N1 with a 52% mortality rate. How deadly is bird flu in humans? What we know as US confirms 1st death. I think the reason it’s considered “low risk” is that all these people were infected by directly handling sick or dead birds. It has not spread human to human. Now that it’s infected cows and rats, I assume it’s no longer really “low risk”, or at least it obviously needs to be taken more seriously. A poster on another thread suggested we shouldn’t be culling infected birds, this would be a strong counterpoint that yes they should be culling them and not trying to mess around with it.
The "Department of Government Efficiency," has to be the most ironical name ever conceived of for an agency. This is what happens when you carry out your mission like a toddler on Twinkies.
