The CDC today released a new dashboard that could reveal whether bird flu is spreading in your area.
The dashboard is based on wastewater samples that test positive for influenza A viruses, such as the H5N1 strain that infects cattle on U.S. dairy farms.
The data is presented in map form and compares positive tests to the same period last year to look for increases. Scientists say the increases do not necessarily mean that bird flu has jumped to humans because influenza type A is “common” in people and accounts for about 75 percent of all cases.
But in the coming months the dashboard is expected to indicate where H5N1 is most prevalent because seasonal flu is typically low this time of year.
The map above the dashboard shows locations where wastewater testing for influenza A viruses was performed in the past week, through May 4. High levels were reported in Kansas, where cattle also tested positive for the virus.
The maps above show locations that reported high levels of influenza over the past two weeks for which data is available.
During the two weeks of data available, one location in Kansas, a state that is seeing an outbreak of the virus in livestock, showed increases, for example.
Illinois and Florida are the other states with high levels of influenza A.
Both states are not seeing surges in flu levels overall, although increases have been detected in certain counties.
Experts say surges in local areas may be linked to late-season outbreaks or unusually cold weather, which may lead people to spend more time indoors, where the flu is more likely to spread.
They suggest it may also be due to increased testing compared to the same period last year, leading to more cases being detected.
CDC officials say the dashboard cannot determine where the virus in wastewater comes from, saying it may come from humans, animals or products such as infected milk.
But the agency says testing will be done when increases are detected to establish whether H5N1 is involved.
It comes after veterinarians reported that several farmers on farms with infected livestock were sick but were not showing up for testing.
Officials have also revealed they have struggled to encourage farmers to get tested for the virus, amid concerns it could have repercussions on their farms.
There is concern that bird flu viruses could be transmitted from livestock to people (stock)
Last week, the USDA said it would pay farms $28,000 each to allow on-site officials to test livestock for bird flu, in an attempt to encourage more people to come forward.
Amy Kirby, CDC wastewater team leader, said STATISTICS that testing had also been ordered after some sites detected unusual increases in family A flu viruses.
The increases were very location-specific, he said, calling them a “very limited phenomenon.”
Authorities are testing for influenza A viruses, a family of flu viruses that can infect both humans and animals. Others in this group include swine flu, or H1N1, and a type that can circulate in dogs and people, or H3N2.
They differ from influenza B viruses, a family of these viruses that can only circulate between people.
The most recent map, for the week of April 30 to May 4, shows that one location in Kansas had higher than normal levels of influenza A virus.
Over the past week, three locations, including one in Florida and one in Illinois, also reported spikes, although none of them detected the virus in livestock.
The disease was also detected at higher than average levels in parts of Texas over the past week, including the Texas Panhandle, where infected cattle are located.
There are a total of 674 localities included in the map, although in the last week only 230 reported wastewater data.
It comes amid a livestock outbreak that has so far sickened 42 herds in more than nine states.
However, some experts fear this is an underestimate, because many farmers refuse to have their animals tested.