US EditionAvian influenza discovered in NYS bobcats
- Researchers from Cornell University, in collaboration with the New York State Wildlife Health Program, confirmed avian influenza in wild bobcats in New York state, publishing their findings in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases on March 25, 2024.
- This discovery occurred against the backdrop of widespread avian influenza outbreaks that have decimated poultry flocks globally and reduced the U.S. Flock by 22%.
- The study involved tracking 16 live-captured bobcats across New York state between January 9 and March 3, 2024, fitting them with GPS collars and collecting biological samples, revealing that more than half had influenza antibodies, with four showing exposure to the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain and five to other strains.
- According to Jennifer Bloodgood, senior author and wildlife veterinarian, "While it's notable and promising that some bobcats have survived exposure, a key takeaway is that these animals can and do die from infection," as evidenced by one bobcat dying from H5N1 within five weeks of capture after initially testing negative.
- The research underscores the importance of proactive wildlife disease monitoring to understand emerging threats to wildlife populations and to inform public health strategies, as avian influenza increasingly poses a risk to both animal and human health, with one human death reported in the U.S.
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