TTU Lab Confirms First Case of Bird Flu Transmission from Cow to Human
Dr. Cynthia Reinoso Webb, coordinator for the Biological Threat Research Laboratory (BTRL), explained that their lab is part of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Laboratory Response Network, enabling them to test complex pathogens like bird flu. Upon receiving the samples, strict protocols were followed, including transportation in cold conditions and testing in a high containment laboratory. After identifying the virus as H5N1, a highly pathogenic avian influenza, regional, state, and federal agencies were notified, and the samples were sent to the CDC in Atlanta for confirmation. Dr. Reinoso Webb suggested that the virus may have spread through cow’s milk, as the patient had been in contact with sick cattle. Although the exact mode of transmission remains uncertain, genetic sequencing revealed similarities between the virus strains from the patient and the infected cattle.
TTU Lab Confirms First Case of Bird Flu Transmission from Cow to Human
A Texas Tech clinical lab has achieved a significant breakthrough by confirming the first case of bird flu transmitted from a cow to a human.