New Scientist Weekly Is bird flu spreading between people? Plus 2024’s best science books
5 snips
Nov 29, 2024 Concerns about bird flu are escalating, with experts warning its potential to adapt for human transmission. Outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows pose questions about its future evolution. Meanwhile, disappointing outcomes from the COP29 climate summit highlight ongoing financing struggles for poorer nations. This week’s recommendations reveal exciting new science books for 2024, covering a range of topics from Mars colonization to food distribution and nuclear threats, sure to spark your interest and expand your reading list!
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Bird Flu Concerns
- Bird flu, H5N1, is widespread in wild birds and has caused outbreaks in US poultry and dairy cows.
- Human cases are rising, with California as a hotspot, and some infections are asymptomatic.
H5N1 in Cows
- The first H5N1 case in a dairy cow was in Texas in March.
- This was surprising as cows aren't natural hosts, and it has since spread to 650 dairy herds.
Untraceable Cases
- Most US H5N1 cases trace back to animal contact, but two cases have an unknown source.
- This raises concerns about potential human-to-human transmission.
