Bird flu: US Agriculture Department faulted for not releasing more data about cattle herds

USDA faulted for disclosing scant information about outbreaks of H5N1 avian flu in cattle With 28 herds in eight states infected with H5N1 bird flu, scientists are calling on the U.S. to release more data to help them assess the risk. Helen Branswell STAT

...Three and a half weeks after first announcing the startling news that cows from a milking herd in Texas had tested positive for H5N1, the government agencies involved in the investigations have not yet revealed what research shows about whether pasteurization of milk kills this specific virus. And until Thursday, U.S. officials had not disclosed whether the now 29 affected herds in eight states form a single linked outbreak fueled by the movement of cattle from the Texas panhandle, where the first outbreak was discovered. At present, STAT was told, that does not appear to be the case.

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