STUTON ASTROW, New York – A highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic (H5N1), which has affected more than 40 million birds in 36 states, has been found in many other animals, including red foxes and shirts, according to the New York Times.
The bird flu, which has spread to North America and parts of Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, has reportedly spread to mammals such as skunks in Canada, otters and lynx in Europe and even a couple of people in the United States and Britain contact with infected birds.
The report says the animals may have become infected after eating birds with the virus.
The researchers said mammals were not major vectors for H5N1 transmission, and despite human cases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the risk to humans remained low. Experts have previously said that people should stop filling bird feeders to help blunt the spread of the virus.
However, as more mammals are infected with the flu, there is a greater risk of mutations, the report said.
Millions of chickens have been wiped out since early February as the pathogen wreaks havoc on the flock, and rising numbers are coming as poultry prices are already rising due to inflation.
The outbreak of bird flu in 2015 killed nearly 50 million chickens and turkeys to prevent the spread of the virus. The epidemic has raised egg prices, according to Advance / SILive.com, seriously upsetting the market until it dissipates next year.
However, bird flu has a huge impact on wild birds.
In mid-January, the USDA said dozens of migratory birds along the East Coast had tested positive for bird flu, and the New York Times reported that some 400,000 wild birds were thought to have been killed by the virus, although the total could be is insufficient.
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