Bird Flu in US: Amid rising H5N1 cases in cattle, why isn't UK testing cows?

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), an administrative body related to cases like a bird flu outbreak, has recently mentioned that the reports of the H5N1 virus are very low in UK-based cattle and, therefore, they are not necessarily at risk, according to a Sky News report.

Can the H5N1 virus be the next pandemic in the US?

On the other hand, this same H5N1 virus is on a rampage in the United States with multiple outbreaks being reported in different regions where cattle and poultry are based.
According to researchers, the virus kept spreading undetected in US dairy farms for a long time and has now the potential of turning into a full-blown epidemic. Moreover, this virus has also affected humans, alongside cows.


The fact that the virus can transmitted between mammals is a growing concern for scientists monitoring these kinds of viruses as this may have the potential of becoming a pandemic, says Sky News.

UK cattle still not being tested for bird flu: Reports

Despite this massive outbreak of the bird flu in the US, which has also claimed the lives of cattle, Britain is still wary of being on high alert and conducting due tests on every cattle farm based in the region.

According to DEFRA, the risk level in the UK cannot be deemed as high as very limited of them have been diagnosed with this virus, according to Sky News. The count is so low that it is too early to start any kind of mass-testing of cattle, feels DEFRA.

However, the spokesperson also mentioned that even though the risk level has not changed in the country, they are still monitoring America's H5N1 situation very minutely.

FAQs:

Where is the H5N1 flu currently creating havoc?
The H5N1 bird flu is currently on a rampage in the United States with many cattle, especially cows being infected with this virus. Moreover, this virus has also affected humans, claim reports.

Is Britain doing routine checks on cattle for bird flu?
Even though the cases of H5N1 are increasing among US-based cattle, Britain is still shying away from conducting necessary tests on their cattle as they claim that the risk there is very low.