Dr. Wenlianna said Sunday that the lack of testing for bird flu does not mean that the virus does not exist in humans, and she believes that the federal government “should learn from the new coronavirus” and should be proactive in taking measures Americans can Get tested instead of waiting for the lab to describe the case and its severity.
“I think we should learn from COVID-19 that just because we don't have testing doesn't mean the virus isn't there,” said Dr. Leana Wen, a former researcher. Former Baltimore Health Commissioner Winn on 'Face the Nation' with Margaret Brennan”.
“We should have rapid testing, at-home testing for all farmworkers, their families and the clinicians who care for them so we don't have to wait for public labs and CDC labs to tell us what avian influenza is,” she added.
Recent outbreaks of avian influenza stem from mutations in the H5N1 virus that are more likely to affect humans than past viral mutations that targeted birds rather than mammals.
On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the first severe case of bird flu in the United States was detected in a hospital. A patient in Louisiana was infected by backyard poultry. On Friday, health officials confirmed the case in Louisiana for the first time, bringing the total number of reported human cases of H5 avian influenza in the United States to 61. British Columbia has reported another serious case of H5N1 in a teenager.
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According to the CDC, the mutations found in humans appear to develop as the virus adapts to its host. The genetic changes in the H5N1 virus samples from the infected person were not present in samples from the backyard poultry flock that infected the patient, suggesting that the relevant mutations did not appear until after the virus had spread. Federal health officials said in the report that when these changes occur during the clinical course of human infection, transmission between close contacts is more likely to occur.
“This was a very sick person. But more than that, researchers isolated the virus from this patient in Louisiana, and they found that this particular strain of the virus appeared to have acquired mutations that made it more likely with airway receptors,” Wen said on Sunday, adding that the mutation allowed a person to be infected with both avian and seasonal flu at the same time.
Wen added that she believes the current number of H5N1 cases reported in the U.S. may be underestimated due to a lack of testing.
“We have poultry outbreaks in all 50 states; cattle outbreaks in 16 states. In California, more than 300 cattle herds have tested positive in the past 30 days, and we now have 66 human cases of avian influenza, almost Definitely, that's a serious underestimate because we haven't done enough testing,” Wen said.
On Sunday, Wen also urged the Biden administration to approve an H5N1 vaccine, which has already been developed and has contracts with manufacturers to produce nearly 5 million doses but is awaiting FDA authorization – a key issue in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak. The difference is.
“This has been studied. They can get authorization now and make the vaccine available to farm workers and vulnerable groups,” Wen said. “I think it's the right thing to do because we don't know what the Trump administration is going to do on the avian flu issue. If they have people who are anti-vaccination, are they going to delay vaccine authorization? If they don't, I don't want to Knowing how much bird flu is out there, can they refuse to test it? I mean, it's possible.
The push for immediate vaccine authorization and additional testing is rooted in concerns that the Trump administration could delay vaccinations.
“I don't want to wait for the Trump administration to potentially delay vaccinations and say they need more evidence,” Wen said. “Look, evidence is always good, facts are always good. New research is always good. But you Potential disasters must also be weighed, as we might face with bird flu and coronavirus.”
Some of President-elect Trump's cabinet picks, such as Dr. Marty Makary, who will lead the FDA, were described by Wen Jiabao as “very capable” and “independent thinkers who really listen to science and are willing to change themselves when new situations arise.” idea”. Evidence emerges. “However, people are more worried about Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. Controversial choice for Minister of Health and Humanity Who spreads false information about vaccines and autism.
“I've spoken with my colleagues in medicine and public health, and I think we all share the same concerns, especially with Robert F. Kennedy, our nominee to head the Department of Health and Human Services,” Wen said. “Kennedy has espoused many anti-vaccine views in the past. In fact, he has been one of the leading anti-vaccine advocates in the United States and the world over the past several decades.”
