Summary

The USDA confirmed H5N1 bird flu in rats for the first time, detecting the virus in four black rats in California near recent poultry outbreaks.

Other infected mammals include a harbor seal, a fox, a bobcat, and a cat likely exposed through contaminated raw pet food.

The discovery comes as the USDA scrambles to rehire bird flu experts recently fired under cost-cutting measures.

Since 2022, the virus has led to mass poultry culls, rising egg prices, infections in dairy cows, and nearly 70 human cases, including one fatality.

  • @regrub
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    2624 hours ago

    Looking forward to Black Plague 2.0

    • @TriPolarBearz
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      1724 hours ago

      With the current administration and culture, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear to term DEI Plague at some point.

      • @disguy_ovahea
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        1023 hours ago

        Yeah, it’ll just be blamed on immigrants instead of Jews.

        • LostXOR
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          422 hours ago

          Those darn Mexicans are carrying rats over the border! They must be stopped!!!11!!1