On Wednesday, October 30, a pig in a backyard farm operation in Oregon tested positive for H5N1 bird flu. H5N1 is an influenza that is rare in humans. However, it is very contagious and highly deadly in animals. The virus has been affecting the United State’s dairy cows and poultry. Several cases of H5N1 in humans have been caused by exposure to dairy cows.
Researchers are concerned that if the H5N1 virus spreads to pigs, then the virus might have the capability to evolve into a disease that can be contagious and widespread in humans. Pigs are known to be a “mixing bowl” for viruses to mutate, as they carry the same kind of receptors on their lungs as humans and birds.
As of November 6, scientists have still been working on identifying the H5N1 virus in these pigs, as well as making an effort to keep communities and farms safe from the avian flu. A few infectious disease experts want more clarity on the case of flu in the pigs from the backyard farm. They say it may very well be an environmental contamination of the nose.
However, testing positive for H5N1 in these pigs is not concerning for the nation’s pork supply. So far, there has only been one known isolated case of the virus being caught in swine. Researchers are still getting more information about the flu.