Cattle may be Susceptible to Having Human and Bird Virus

Cows are susceptible to avian flu as well as human virus. According to this new discovery, cows may be able to simultaneously host two flu strains. After that, the two viruses may switch components to produce a novel strain of influenza, perhaps even one that might trigger an epidemic.

Kristensen and colleagues investigated if avian flu viruses could spread to cow cells through receptors in their latest investigation. The researchers discovered these entrance gates in addition to the receptors’ abundance in the glands that produce milk, modest concentrations in the airways, and extremely tiny amounts in the brain. Kristensen claims that this is consistent with the explanation of the sickness in cattle, which lowers milk output but doesn’t appear to cause serious symptoms in the majority of them.

Kristensen stated: “These are just preliminary results… but still important, because right now we really [don’t] know very much about cattle and influenza viruses.”