Avian flu confirmed in more US poultry, cattle; more than 500 herds now affected

News brief

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed more H5 avian influenza outbreaks in dairy cows and poultry.

ducks and chickens — *marty8801 / iStock*

Of 13 more confirmations in dairy cows, all were in California, lifting the state's total to 291 and putting the national total at 505 from 15 states.

Also, APHIS reported two more confirmations in poultry flocks, one involving backyard birds in Tulare County, which is part of the hard-hit Central Valley region that has been California's H5N1 epicenter for dairy cattle outbreaks. The other involves a backyard flock of 20 birds in Malheur County, Oregon.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture said the flock had chickens and ducks, that the avian flu detection is the first in Malheur County, and that the birds were humanely euthanized.

Alveo announces rapid-test deal with CDC

Alveo Technologies today announced that it has received an agreement from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a rapid molecular test at the point of need—beyond just the clinic setting—to differentiate between influenza A, influenza B, and H5 influenza in people. The agreement was part of an open call for innovation diagnostics that the CDC issued in June.

The portable easy-to-use test can help expand diagnostic capacity, which is currently limited to public health labs that have access to the CDC's H5 assay.

"Additionally, the platform can automatically deliver accurate, real-time results via a secure cloud-based portal for analysis and reporting," the company said. It will begin shipping molecular tests for a range of avian flu subtypes (type A and subtypes H5, H7, and H9) next month.

McDonald's E coli outbreak expands by 14 cases, 7 hospitalizations, and 1 more state

News brief

Mary Van Beusekom, MS

The Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak traced to contaminated raw onions on Quarter Pounder hamburgers served at McDonald's has grown by 14 reported cases, 7 hospitalizations, and 1 more state, topping 100 illnesses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in an update yesterday.

Since the CDC launched an investigation on October 22, the Shiga toxin–producing E coli outbreak has sickened 104 people, with 34 hospitalizations, 4 cases of the life-threatening kidney disease called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and the death of an 88-year-old man in Colorado. Illness onsets were reported from September 12 to October 21.

Ongoing risk low, agency says

The tainted slivered yellow onions at restaurants where they were distributed are expired and have been recalled by the supplier, Taylor Farms. McDonald's has since sourced a different supplier for the affected locations.

The likelihood of contaminated onions still being available for sale is low.

The vegetables had been distributed to only food-service establishments such as restaurants rather than retail outlets. "The likelihood of contaminated onions still being available for sale is low," the update said.

Affected states include Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

Symptoms of E coli infection include stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and nausea or vomiting. Severe cases can cause bloody diarrhea and HUS and lead to high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurologic problems.