Second type of bird flu detected in US dairy cows
A version of the H5N1 bird flu virus known as B3.13 was confirmed in March after being introduced to cattle in late 2023, scientists said. It has infected more than 950 herds in 16 states. The new version, known as D1.1, was confirmed in Nevada cattle on Friday, according to USDA. It was detected in milk collected as part of a surveillance program launched in December.
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'Now we know why it's really important to test and continue testing,' said Angela Rasmussen, a virus expert at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, who helped identify the first spillover.
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The D1.1 version of the virus was the type linked to the first U.S. death tied to bird flu and a severe illness in Canada. A person in Louisiana died in January after developing severe respiratory symptoms following contact with wild and backyard birds. In British Columbia, a teen girl was hospitalized for months with a virus traced to poultry.
At least 67 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, mostly those who work closely with dairy or cattle, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
USDA officials said they would post genetic sequences and other information about the new form of the virus to a public repository later this week. Scientists said that would be key to understanding whether the spillover was a recent event or whether the virus has been circulating, perhaps widely, for longer.
'If this turns out to have been something that crossed into cattle a couple months ago, a couple months is a long time not to detect it,' said Michael Worobey, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Arizona who has studied the H5N1 virus in cattle.
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He added that it's important for federal officials to share promptly information about a virus that has the potential to trigger a pandemic that could 'make COVID seem like a walk in the park.'
'It's a vital part of national security, global security, the well-being of people, of animals and of businesses in the U.S.,' Worobey added.
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Global Virus Network Issues Scientific Guidance on New COVID-19 Variant NB.1.8.1 and Vaccine Protection
Scientific collaboration, accurate public communication, and continued investment in prevention tools are critical in navigating the evolving COVID-19 landscape TAMPA, Fla., June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Virus Network (GVN) is closely monitoring the emergence of a newly identified SARS-CoV-2 variant, NB.1.8.1, a sublineage of the Omicron family. This variant was first identified in January 2025 and has rapidly spread across Asia and into other regions, including parts of the United States. The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated NB.1.8.1 as a Variant Under Monitoring due to its increasing prevalence and potential public health implications. Based on current evidence, GVN advises vigilance, not alarm, and reinforces the critical role of vaccination in preventing severe disease and death. Similar to previous Omicron subvariants, NB.1.8.1 contains spike protein mutations associated with increased transmissibility. However, no evidence suggests that NB.1.8.1 causes more severe illness or significantly evades vaccine-induced or natural immunity. Early laboratory and clinical data indicate that updated COVID-19 vaccines, including bivalent and XBB-based boosters, protect against severe outcomes such as hospitalization and death. There is no evidence at this time that NB.1.8.1 causes more severe illness than previous variants. Breakthrough infections may occur, particularly among individuals with waning immunity or those who are unvaccinated. Nevertheless, vaccines remain highly effective in reducing serious illness and death. Antiviral treatments such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) and remdesivir demonstrate efficacy against a range of Omicron subvariants, including BQ.1, BQ.1.1, and XBB.1.5. NB.1.8.1 has been linked to significant increases in COVID-19 cases across several countries. According to the WHO, as of May 18, 2025, the NB.1.8.1 variant has been identified in 22 countries, accounting for 10.7% of global SARS-CoV-2 sequences submitted to the Global Initiative on Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) during epidemiological week 17 (April 21–27, 2025). This marks a significant increase from 2.5% four weeks prior. As of June 4, 2025, India reported 4,302 active COVID-19 infections, with nearly 300 new cases recorded within the previous 24 hours. States such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat, and especially Kerala have experienced a steady rise in cases. During the week of April 27 to May 3, 2025, nearly 6,000 individuals in Taiwan sought medical assistance at hospitals due to COVID-19-related symptoms. This marked a 78% increase from the previous week and represented the fourth consecutive week of rising case numbers. As of early June 2025, in the U.S., more than a dozen cases of the NB.1.8.1 subvariant have been identified in Washington State. The variant was first detected in the U.S. between late March and early April through routine screenings of international travelers at airports in California, Washington State, Virginia, and New York. Subsequent cases have been reported in Ohio, Rhode Island, and Hawaii. In the U.S., there have been about 300 deaths per week from COVID-19 in 2025 through May. Periodic summer surges are anticipated, consistent with seasonal patterns observed in previous years. GVN Supports the Following COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations: Adults aged 65 and older, and individuals with underlying conditions, should receive an updated COVID-19 booster tailored to circulating variants. All individuals 6 months and older, including children and adolescents, are encouraged to stay current with vaccinations, especially ahead of the fall and winter respiratory seasons. 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America's Dental Health Is in Trouble
Credit - Photo Illustration by Chloe Dowling (Source Image:) Not long ago, Dr. Suzanne Fournier saw a 16-year-old patient with a swollen face and difficulty breathing. Fournier, a dentist who practices at an urban hospital in Louisiana, had to extract six of the teen's teeth; he was eventually intubated and admitted to the intensive care unit because his airways had closed up. He survived, but Fournier is worried that there will be more children like him across the country who could come close to death because of the state of their oral health. 'I really worry that someone is going to die because they have an abscessed cavity that develops into an infection, and they won't be able to access care,' she says. In the U.S., 27% of adults don't have dental insurance, according to the most recent State of Oral Health Equity in America by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of better oral health care. That's about 72 million Americans. 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'We are going to have more disease, larger cavities, and some of these kids are going to have to go to the hospital because their cavities are going to be so bad,' he says. Oral health advocates say that in recent years, the country had been making some progress in improving access to dental care. For instance, a bill introduced in the Senate in March would require Medicare to cover dental, vision, and hearing. And some states have, in the last few years, expanded Medicaid benefits to cover adult dental services. This can end up saving money in the long run; when Colorado chose to expand Medicaid adult dental benefits under the Affordable Care Act, one safety-net provider saw a 22% decrease in tooth extractions, according to CareQuest. When states increase how much dentists can be reimbursed through Medicaid, more dentists sign up as Medicaid providers, which has been shown to increase children's dental visits. But advocates say they're worried that all of this progress is now going to be reversed, and that oral health in the U.S., especially for children, is going to suffer. Read More: How Having a Baby Is Changing Under Trump 'I think we're at this balancing point where if we can keep things moving forward, there is the real opportunity for millions of people to get dental care,' says Simon, the Boston doctor and dentist. 'But we've seen this before—anytime there's a budget shortfall, dental care is the first thing on the chopping block.' The irony of this to many dentists is that providing people with preventative care can actually save states money over time. Children on Medicaid who received fluoride treatments saved between $88 and $156 each for their state programs, one study found. 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New Genomics Investments Expand eDNA Monitoring in BC's Remote and Indigenous Communities
VANCOUVER, BC, June 5, 2025 /CNW/ - On World Environment Day, Genome British Columbia (Genome BC) is proud to announce significant new investments that will expand Canada's capacity for environmental DNA or RNA (collectively called 'eDNA') monitoring. These investments highlight British Columbia's leadership in leveraging genomics to address pressing environmental and health challenges, particularly in remote and Indigenous communities. Nature's Fingerprints: eDNA is a New Tool that Reveals What's Living Around Us eDNA is a powerful tool that uses trace genetic material left behind in water, air and soil to detect pathogens, assess ecosystem health and support environmental decision-making. eDNA allows scientists and communities to detect and track species without needing to see them directly, offering a more efficient way to study ecosystems. eDNA can also track health and ecological signals without relying on invasive testing. This technology was widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor virus levels in wastewater and is now being expanded to keep people safe, protect biodiversity and help with climate resilience. The projects announced today focus on ensuring these tools are not just scientifically robust, but also community-driven and accessible — especially for regions with limited existing monitoring infrastructure. "These investments reflect how genomics is helping us learn directly from the environments we live in — and how that knowledge can be shared in ways that empower communities," said Federica Di Palma, Chief Scientific Officer and Vice President, Research and Innovation at Genome BC. "By supporting eDNA research rooted in partnership with Indigenous and remote communities, BC researchers are helping lead the way toward more inclusive, real-time approaches to health and environmental monitoring." Three Projects Expanding eDNA Use and Data Sharing The ChùNet and iMicroSeq projects are BC-based projects awarded through Genome Canada's eDNA Surveillance program, which includes a $11.3 million investment in 12 projects across the country aimed at building the scientific, technical and community capacity needed to scale eDNA surveillance. The eDNA Explorer Canada project is a separate initiative funded by Genome BC, though all three projects will coordinate their efforts. ChùNet: Enabling a knowledge sharing network — learning from water and the life it carries Led by: Erin Gill (Simon Fraser University) and Math'ieya Alatini (One Yukon Coalition) This project will establish a community-focused network to share data and knowledge about water-based eDNA monitoring in northern, rural, remote and Indigenous communities in BC and the Yukon. Co-led by academic and community partners, ChùNet will create tailored training resources and deploy a demonstration monitoring project while respecting OCAP® principles. The aim is to build a wholistic foundation for integrating environmental and public health surveillance that builds local priorities into decision making. iMicroSeq: Integrated, inclusive resources supporting environmental sequence data Led by: Fiona Brinkman and Emma Griffiths (Simon Fraser University) This project will develop a national data portal and communications platform that brings together researchers, Indigenous communities, public health officials and other in industry to support more coordinated, integrated microbial eDNA monitoring for wastewater and other water data. iMicroSeq will enhance data sharing, respect Indigenous data sovereignty (CARE and OCAP® Principles), and link human, agricultural and environmental health through a One Health lens. The platform will empower both community and industry innovation in economic, water-based pathogen detection and climate resilience. eDNA Explorer Canada: Upscaling eDNA Explorer to Enable Effective Biodiversity Monitoring in Canada Led by: Caren Helbing (University of Victoria) and Rachel Meyer (University of Santa Cruz & Chief Scientific Officer at eDNA Explorer) This project leverages the eDNA Explorer platform developed in California to create eDNA Explorer Canada. This powerful, easy-to-use portal will allow anyone to understand, evaluate and share eDNA data gathered in Canadian ecosystems, focusing on biodiversity monitoring, conservation and restoration. eDNA Explorer Canada is tailored to meet Canadian environmental standards and sovereignty needs, ensuring data is reliable and legally compliant. It aims to turn raw data into actionable insights that drive environmental protection efforts, building on existing relationships with Indigenous and government agencies established through the iTrackDNA project, which in 2021 and 2023 established Canada's national eDNA standards (learn more about those standards here). About Genome British Columbia: Genome BC is a not-for-profit organization that has advanced genomics research and innovation for 25 years, growing a world-class life sciences sector in BC and delivering sustainable benefits for British Columbia, Canada and beyond. Genome BC has attracted over $1 billion in direct co-investment to the province, which has contributed to funding more than 550 genomics research and innovation projects. These initiatives enhance healthcare and address environmental and natural resource challenges, improving the lives of British Columbians. Genome BC also integrates genomics into society by supporting responsible research and innovation and fostering an understanding and appreciation of the life sciences among educators, students and the public. SOURCE Genome British Columbia View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
