Canadian virologists say we should stop on this side of the border as the bird flu outbreak decimates wildlife in the United States.
“This is of great concern to us. We always think about these emerging diseases primarily in terms of human health and the direct impact of infectious diseases on humans,” said Professor of Medical Microbiology at the University of Manitoba. said Jason Kindrachuk, associate professor and Canadian research director in the Department of Science and Infectious Diseases.
“The reality is we have to start thinking about agriculture and food security. These issues are also common in this type of outbreak.”
His comments are about the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu. prevalent among cows on dozens of dairy farms in the United States, It has raised concerns about the possibility of a pandemic for humans.
The outbreak prompted food testing of ground beef and grocery store milk in the United States, and the Food and Drug Administration found that one in five dairy samples tested positive for H5N1 particles.
Importantly, the virus fragments do not cause disease in humans, and there have been no confirmed cases of avian influenza in cattle in Canada.
However, mortality rates for cats fed raw milk on U.S. dairy farms are high, with more than 50% of cats testing positive for H5N1 dying from H5N1.
Kindrachuk said pasteurization deals with infectious viruses, which is critical from an overall food security and human risk perspective.
“But again, the more room we give this virus to get through these animals, the more chance it has to change and adapt, making sure it’s in the meat supply and in other places like cats and cats.” The virus certainly poses a continued risk to humans as well.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said it is “closely monitoring the rapidly evolving situation.”
Kindrachuk said the COVID-19 pandemic has prompted more research groups, including his, to take a citizen science approach to these types of outbreaks to increase ongoing surveillance. He points out that this was the impetus for hiring him.
“I think you’re going to see groups across the aisle working together very quickly and trying to get resources in-house as quickly as possible to match what’s needed.”
$57 million flows into U of M for vaccine, biomanufacturing research
Meanwhile, it was announced on Monday that the University of Manitoba will receive $57 million to conduct world-leading vaccine and biomanufacturing research in collaboration with the University of Alberta, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Calgary. This funding will help build two facilities on the Fort Garry and Bannatyne campuses, allowing the U of M to play a key role in addressing future pandemic threats in Canada and around the world. Become.
The funding represents the largest federal research investment in the university’s history.
Kindrachuk said the funding will give U of M researchers like himself the ability to work directly with the virus.
“This puts Canada and Canadians in a much better and safer position than we’ve ever been in, and certainly for Manitobans, this puts us in a very unique position to prepare and respond.” We provide opportunities.”
– With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé Pauline Chan
