For the first time, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed the presence of H5N1 avian influenza in rats, raising fresh concerns about the virus’s ability to spread among mammals.
The infected black rats were found in Riverside County, California, near recent poultry outbreaks. This discovery comes amid broader concerns about avian flu transmission, with additional detections in a harbor seal, a fox, a bobcat, and a domestic cat.
In response to the ongoing threat, the Public Health Agency of Canada has secured 500,000 doses of GSK’s human vaccine against avian influenza to protect those at the highest risk of exposure. The Arepanrix H5N1 vaccine, recently authorized by Health Canada, will be distributed based on risk assessments, with 60 percent allocated to provinces and 40 percent kept in a national stockpile.
Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization has recommended targeted use for individuals with potential exposure, such as lab workers and those handling infected animals. Other countries, including the U.S., the EU, and the UK, have also stockpiled avian flu vaccines, with Finland already administering doses to high-risk workers.
Meanwhile, the USDA has reversed recent layoffs of employees working on the avian flu response, acknowledging the critical need for frontline staff to protect the nation’s food supply.
As avian flu continues to spread among wildlife and livestock, the latest developments underscore the importance of vigilance and preparedness in preventing further transmission.
