Interventional Care

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With the price of eggs you would think that chickens have all given up on the world and found an “eggsit”. It certainly seems as though they have all abandoned their efforts on trying to cross the road, and have officially flown the coop! What “eggsactly” is going on with all of this anyway?
Myth: Labor shortage is the only factor causing an egg shortage.
Fact: Avian influenza or bird flu refers to a virus which can cause diseases in both wild and domesticated bird species. Starting in 2022 a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus was detected in U.S. wild aquatic birds, commercial poultry and backyard or hobbyist flocks. These are the first detections of HPAI A(H5) viruses in the U.S. since 2016 (1). Unfortunately, they are affecting millions of birds. All 50 states have had wild birds come back positive for the disease, and so far 47 states have detected the variant and over 57 million domestic poultry affected.
Myth: Avian Influenza can easily jump to humans, causing another global pandemic.
Fact: The short answer is yes it can jump to humans, however the CDC makes it clear that this is highly unlikely. Although there have been over 57 million domestic birds affected, there has been only one case of human transmission detected (in the United States) so far (1).
To that end, bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans. However, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred. The CDC has stated that highly pathogenic avian influenza has caused family case clusters in the past, mostly in Southeast Asia, that could be due to human-to-human transmission (2). Should this virus, or another zoonotic influenza virus, gain the ability of sustained human-to-human transmission, an influenza pandemic could result. Influenza strains that are highly pathogenic could be more deadly than the COVID-19 pandemic. The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of avian origin. Although there is not universal consensus regarding where the virus originated, it spread worldwide during 1918-1919. In the United States, it was first identified in military personnel in spring 1918 (3). It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States.
Myth: There is not much you can do to protect yourself and your family from potentially being exposed to this virus.
Fact: The CDC has some tips (4):
As always, good hand hygiene practices and paying special attention to a clean and hygienic environment are key ways to prevent any kind of Influenza. PDI is committed to infection prevention, and has a line of hand hygiene products available) as well as a wide selection of EPA approved disinfection wipes with kill claims for Influenza as well as emerging pathogens of concern. Don’t you think this is “eggselent” news?