Spikes Of Influenza A Seen In Wastewater Samples Point To Spread Of H5N1 Infecting Dairy Cattle, Research Suggests

CNN (4/30, Goodman) reports, “Spikes of influenza A virus seen in wastewater samples from 59 sewer systems across 18 different states this spring may point to the spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus that is currently infecting dairy cattle,” according to researchers who monitor “a large network of wastewater treatment plants across the US” and “measured both a genetic marker for influenza A viruses and genetic markers specific to H5 viruses.” Results showed that “as levels of the marker for influenza A viruses began to rise in early March, the markers for the H5 viruses began to rise in tandem.” The research was posted as a preprint on the BioRxiv server.