In a significant development, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced on Wednesday that the first confirmed case of H5N1 avian influenza in a pig within the United States has been found.
The infected pig was part of the backyard farm that had a mix of poultry and livestock, and did not show any signs of illness, as per the press release. However, when tested as a precautionary measure along with four other swine, it was found to be positive. In total, five pigs were tested out of which two were negative, while two still have pending results.
“The livestock and poultry on this farm shared water sources, housing and equipment; in other states, this combination has enabled transmission between species,” the release noted.
The USDA said the farm in a non-commercial operation and not connected to commercial food supply. IT added that it did not have any bearing on the safety of the nation’s pork supply. The farm has been placed under quarantine to contain bird flu spread to others.
Experts warn that pigs, known as “mixing vessels” for flu strains, could pose new risks if the virus adapts for human transmission. This is because pigs are susceptible to both human and avian influenza. The farm is under quarantine as health officials ramp up surveillance efforts.
“There can be several different kinds of flu in swine at any given time, and they can exchange genetic material, creating new strains,” Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health told Fox News.