Health
Meat consumption linked to higher type 2 diabetes risk in observational study
![Meat consumption linked to higher type 2 diabetes risk in observational study Meat consumption linked to higher type 2 diabetes risk in observational study](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/man-eating-steak.jpg)
A diet high in meat — particularly processed meat and unprocessed red meat — could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to new research from the University of Cambridge.
In analyzing data from nearly two million people who participated in 31 studies across 20 countries, the researchers found that eating 50 grams of processed meat per day — equivalent of two slices of ham or bacon, or one small sausage — led to a 15% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next decade, as a press release from the university noted.
Eating 100 grams of unprocessed red meat per day — roughly a small steak — led to a 10% greater risk.
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The findings were published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology.
Eating 100 grams of poultry initially was shown to increase type 2 diabetes risk by 8%, but that link became weaker when tested in different scenarios, which suggests that further research is needed.
A diet high in meat — particularly processed meat and unprocessed red meat — could increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to new research from the University of Cambridge. (iStock)
“Our findings provide the largest and most comprehensive evidence to date of the association between meat consumption and a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes,” said lead author Dr Chunxiao Li, of the Medical Research Council (MRC) Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge, in an email to Fox News Digital.
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“The link between eating processed meat and red meat and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is strong and consistent across populations in different world regions and countries.”
In their analysis, the researchers took into account a wide range of factors, such as age, gender, health-related behaviors (such as smoking, alcohol intake and physical activity), energy intake, body weight, waist circumference and family history of diabetes, as well as other foods that are consumed, Li said.
![Sliced deli meat](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/sliced-deli-meat.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Deli meats or canned meats can easily have 500 to 1500 mg of sodium per serving, according to a registered dietitian nutritionist. (iStock)
This study follows several others that previously suggested this link.
“It was important that we extended the investigation to under-represented populations in countries outside of North America and Europe, which have previously largely dominated research,” said Li.
‘Example of observational research’
Ken D. Berry, M.D., a board-certified family physician who practices medicine in rural Tennessee, disagrees with the premise that meat consumption increases diabetes risk.
“This is an example of observational research,” Berry, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital via email.
“By its very nature, it can never show that one thing causes another thing to happen,” he went on. “All this type of research can do is report a possible association between one thing and another.”
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Sophie Lauver, a Baltimore-based registered dietitian at Aeroflow Diabetes, which helps patients with diabetes obtain the supplies they need, said that people who eat more meat may tend to eat less of other foods known to promote health and reduce disease risk, like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and legumes.
“All this type of research can do is report a possible association between one thing and another.”
“Meat is also a source of saturated fat, and diets high in fat are linked with insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes,” Lauver, who also did not participate in the research, told Fox News Digital.
There is also the likelihood that people who eat meat may be eating it in large amounts, according to Lauver.
![Eating salad](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/01/1200/675/woman-eating-salad-vegan.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Some dietitians recommend prioritizing plant-based foods rather than eating a diet heavy on meat and animal products. (iStock)
“With this eating pattern, meat tends to be the center of the plate rather than foods lower in calories, higher in fiber, and rich in natural plant compounds,” she said.
“We’re also learning about the importance of a diverse microbiome in obesity and diabetes prevention, and this is achieved by eating a varied diet rich in plant foods.”
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Tanya Freirich, a registered dietitian nutritionist in Charlotte, North Carolina, who practices as The Lupus Dietitian, warned that processed meat consumption can be inflammatory, and high intake of saturated fats can increase insulin resistance.
“Processed meats can contain a large portion of the recommended daily intake of sodium in one serving,” said Freirich, who is also unaffiliated with the research.
“For example, deli meats or canned meats can easily have 500 to 1500 mg of sodium per serving.”
Potential limitations
The data used to measure how much food people ate were mostly based on a one-time questionnaire, Li noted.
“Previous research shows that measuring food intake just once is less accurate than doing it multiple times, and this tends to weaken the observed connection to health risks,” she told Fox News Digital.
![Woman eating steak](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/10/1200/675/woman-eating-steak.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Eating 100 grams of unprocessed red meat per day — roughly a small steak — led to a 10% greater risk of type 2 diabetes, the researchers claim. (iStock)
“Therefore, our findings indicate an association between meat intake and developing type 2 diabetes, but the actual link might be stronger than what we found.”
Berry agreed that the questionnaire format is a large limitation.
“This type of research is based on multiple-choice tests given to study participants called Food Frequency Questionnaires,” he said.
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“Participants often fill out these questions every few years, as if they would be able to remember what they ate two years ago, or even longer.”
Although the researchers considerably increased the geographical diversity of study locations compared with previous studies, Li noted that data from some regions, such as Africa, is still limited.
![Hot dog](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/hot-dog.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The researchers found that eating 50 grams of processed meat per day — which is the equivalent of one hot dog — led to a 15% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next decade. (iStock)
“This reflects an important knowledge gap and highlights the need for further research in these locations,” she said.
Freirich echoed the fact that the study is observational and looks only at associations — two factors that are increasing or decreasing in the same direction.
“We can not definitively say that one is the cause of the other,” she told Fox News Digital.
The World Health Organization recommends consuming no more than three portions — equivalent to about 12 to 18 ounces of cooked red meat — every week.
“In an observational study, we don’t see the picture of the individual — the researchers are looking at only two factors, like type of protein consumption and type 2 diabetes risk,” Freirich went on.
“We are not understanding or assessing the rest of their diet, like how many vegetables people are consuming, or how much physical activity is happening.”
What’s the recommendation?
“Our research supports the current dietary guidelines that recommend lowering processed meat and unprocessed red meat consumption to reduce disease burdens,” Li said.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has previously classified processed meat and red meat as carcinogenic to humans, as has the American Institute for Cancer Research (AIRC), which recommends avoiding processed meats.
![World Health Organization](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/world-health-organization.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The World Health Organization previously classified processed meat and red meat as carcinogenic to humans. (iStock)
“For processed meat, the WHO recommends that there is no safe limit, so it is best to avoid or minimize consumption,” Li said.
“For red meat, the WHO recommends consuming no more than three portions, equivalent to about 350 to 500 grams (about 12 to 18 ounces) of cooked weight red meat every week.”
Berry disagrees, recommending that people should continue to eat nutrient-dense, healthy red meat — “as our ancestors have done for over a million years.”
“There is a cohort of nutrition researchers who believe in a plant-based diet and they tout research like this to promote this way of eating,” he said.
“People who are not educated about research findings read only the headline of such articles and they stop eating a very healthy, ancestral food that is packed with nutrition.”
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Lauver, on the other hand, recommends prioritizing plant-based foods rather than eating a diet heavy on meat and animal products.
“Plant foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and seeds,” she told Fox News Digital.
“We are not understanding or assessing the rest of their diet, like how many vegetables people are consuming, or how much physical activity is happening.”
“These whole foods tend to be lower in calories, rich in nutrients, minimally processed and high in fiber, and they foster an environment for a diverse microbiome.”
Freirich recommends that people think about their diet and lifestyle as a whole, including their own medical history.
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“All medical decisions and choices regarding diet should be individualized and personalized,” she said. “What works for you may not be appropriate for your neighbor.”
People should also speak with their health care provider to get personalized recommendations, experts agreed.
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for comment.
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Health
‘What is brain fog — and when should I seek medical attention?’: Ask a doctor
![‘What is brain fog — and when should I seek medical attention?’: Ask a doctor ‘What is brain fog — and when should I seek medical attention?’: Ask a doctor](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/woman-holding-temples.jpg)
Most people have had brief lapses of memory — forgetting a train of thought, a driving route or maybe a word choice.
In most cases, these episodes last only a few seconds and are nothing to worry about — but if they persist, it may warrant getting a doctor’s input.
For a clearer understanding of what defines this condition — often referred to as “brain fog” — Fox News Digital asked two medical doctors about recognizing the symptoms and when to seek medical attention.
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What is brain fog?
Brief periods of mental lapses happen, but persistent symptoms could indicate an underlying condition. (iStock)
Brain fog represents a “set of symptoms persons can experience due to impairments in brain functions, such as thinking, memory, information processing, storage and retrieval, decision-making, paying attention and performing tasks, among others,” Irene M. Estores, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida, told Fox News Digital.
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Symptoms of the condition
The markers and indicators of brain fog can range from feeling suddenly confused about a familiar task or just feeling out of sorts mentally.
“A person may experience difficulty staying on task, inability to focus, forgetfulness or problems finding the right words,” said Estores.
![Man looking confused](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/man-looking-confused.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
The markers and indicators of brain fog can range from feeling suddenly confused about a familiar task or just feeling out of sorts mentally. (iStock)
“They may also struggle to follow simple instructions or remember new information.”
Other symptoms may include feeling confused and dazed, or being physically present but feeling mentally absent, according to Estores.
What can cause these symptoms?
Although each person is different, there are some common causes of brain fog, medical experts say.
Chronic sleep deprivation
Just a single night of poor shuteye can have negative cognitive effects, so a compounded lack of sleep can surely be a culprit of brain fog, Estores noted.
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“Sleep is key to the consolidation of memory, specifically long-term memory,” she said.
“It also affects working memory, attention and decision-making, by affecting the activity of neural circuits in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus and parietal lobes.”
Chronic stress and pain
People who experience chronic stressful events — such as pain, emotional and mental trauma, and social isolation — may notice cognitive effects, said Estores.
Pain medications and co-existing conditions, such as sleep disorders and depression, can also trigger or worsen brain fog.
![Desperate girl suffering insomnia](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/05/1200/675/sleep.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
A compounded lack of sleep can be a culprit of brain fog, a doctor noted. “Sleep is key to the consolidation of memory, specifically long-term memory,” said Irene M. Estores, MD, an associate professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida. (iStock)
Illness
Underlying medical conditions — such as some degenerative diseases, like dementia and Parkinson’s — and metabolic conditions, like diabetes or hypertension, can cause brain fog, according to Estores.
Trauma or infection can also play a role.
What to do about brain fog
For those who are experiencing symptoms associated with brain fog, the first step is to practice good “brain health,” according to Glen R. Finney, MD, professor of neurology at the Geisinger College of Health Sciences in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Healthy cognitive habits include maintaining good sleep hygiene, getting adequate exercise, striving for a healthy diet, staying hydrated and limiting stress.
![Woman full-body MRI](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/03/1200/675/woman-MRI-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
If medical evaluation is suggested, imaging tests — like a brain CT or MR scan — can be used to diagnose any existing conditions. (iStock)
“If that isn’t enough to improve things, let your primary care provider know what you’re experiencing, and they can review your medications and examine you for signs of medical causes, like autoimmune conditions,” Finney told Fox News Digital.
“Also, some people with persistent brain fog may benefit from cognitive rehabilitation with a speech language pathologist, occupational therapist or psychologist,” he added.
How is brain fog evaluated?
If medical evaluation is suggested, imaging tests — like a CT or MRI scan — as well as vascular studies (tests that check the blood flow in the veins and arteries) can be used to diagnose any existing conditions, Estores noted.
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Doctors may also recommend screening for co-existing diseases and conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, depression, anxiety and sleep disorders, she added.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
While feelings of brain fog can be frustrating or sometimes scary, Finney noted that practicing good brain health and talking with your primary care provider can likely help put your mind at ease.
Health
Anthony Fauci’s West Nile virus diagnosis: What to know about the mosquito-borne disease
![Anthony Fauci’s West Nile virus diagnosis: What to know about the mosquito-borne disease Anthony Fauci’s West Nile virus diagnosis: What to know about the mosquito-borne disease](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2023/09/anthony-fauci-in-mask.jpg)
Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and former chief medical advisor to the president, was diagnosed with West Nile virus earlier this month, according to a spokesperson for Fauci.
Fauci, 83 — who was the face of the U.S. response to the COVID pandemic in 2020 — is now recovering at home after being hospitalized for six days.
He is expected to make a full recovery, the spokesperson told Fox News.
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What to know about West Nile virus
As of Aug. 20, there were 216 West Nile virus cases in the U.S. across 33 states, per the CDC.
Among those, 142 cases were neuroinvasive (severe).
Since the West Nile virus first entered the U.S. in 1999, it has become the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Dr. Anthony Fauci, formerly the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the chief medical advisor to the president, was diagnosed with West Nile virus earlier this month, according to a spokesperson for Fauci. (Getty Images)
In most cases, the West Nile virus — a flavivirus in the same family as yellow fever, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and the Zika virus — is spread when Culex mosquitoes bite infected birds and then bite people and other animals, per the CDC’s website.
The virus is not transmitted through eating or handling infected animals or birds — nor is it spread through physical contact, coughing or sneezing.
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A vast majority — around 80% — of the people who contract the virus will not experience any symptoms, the CDC states on its website.
![Dr. Anthony Fauci, West Nile virus and a mosquito.](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/Fauci-collage.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
In most cases, the West Nile virus — a flavivirus in the same family as yellow fever, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis and the Zika virus — is spread when Culex mosquitoes bite infected birds and then bite people and other animals, per the CDC’s website. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images, main, E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images, top right, NIH-NIAID/IMAGE POINT FR/BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images, bottom right.)
“It causes a rash and other symptoms, including swollen lymph nodes, which other viruses in its class do not exhibit,” Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, previously told Fox News Digital.
“It only affects the nervous system 1% of the time and is rarely fatal.”
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Around one in five people will develop febrile illness, which is marked by a fever along with body aches, headache, joint pain, diarrhea, rash and/or vomiting.
These symptoms usually go away on their own, but some people may have lingering weakness and fatigue months after infection.
West Nile affects the nervous system 1% of the time and is rarely fatal.
In rare cases — about one in every 150 infected people — the virus can lead to serious conditions affecting the nervous system, such as encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) or meningitis (inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord), the CDC states on its website.
Those who develop serious illness may experience headache, stiff neck, high fever, disorientation, vision loss, muscle weakness, convulsions, tremors, coma or paralysis, which occur when there is viral infection of the central nervous system.
Among people who have this invasive form of the illness, around 10% will die.
It affects the nervous system 1% of the time and is rarely fatal, statistics show.
![A sick person on a couch](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/1200/675/sick-person.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
Around one in five people will develop febrile illness, which is marked by a fever along with body aches, headache, joint pain, diarrhea, rash and/or vomiting. (iStock)
While anyone can potentially develop severe illness, the highest-risk groups include those over 60 years of age, people who have had organ transplants and those with diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, kidney disease, immune disorders and other certain medical conditions.
“The virus’ effects can be quite serious in the elderly,” Siegel noted.
Diagnosis and treatment
Those who think they might have been infected with WNV should be assessed by a health care provider, the CDC states.
Diagnosis of the infection can be made based on evaluation of symptoms, recent exposure to mosquitoes and testing of blood or spinal fluid.
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Health care providers will typically recommend treating symptoms with over-the-counter pain medications and getting plenty of rest and fluids.
Those who experience severe illness may need to be hospitalized for supportive care.
Preventing the virus
There is currently no vaccine for West Nile virus.
“The virus can be contained through public health measures including more insect repellent with DEET, longer sleeves and less stagnant water in our backyards,” Siegel said.
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Trying to kill adult mosquitoes by spreading too much insecticide can be problematic, the doctor warned.
“Animals, people with asthma and insects that would otherwise kill the mosquitoes are affected.”
![Bear or bug spray](https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/07/1200/675/hiking-bear-bug-spray.jpg?ve=1&tl=1)
When spending time outdoors, it is recommended that people apply insect repellent containing DEET or other EPA-approved ingredients. (iStock)
The most effective means of prevention is to protect against mosquito bites, the CDC confirmed.
The agency’s recommendations include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and taking steps to control exposure to mosquitoes — particularly at dawn and dusk.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
Eliminating any standing water outdoors can help prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
Fox News’ Michael Dorgan and Danielle Wallace contributed reporting.
Health
How scientists in Iowa are working to stop the bird flu outbreak infecting US dairy cows
![How scientists in Iowa are working to stop the bird flu outbreak infecting US dairy cows How scientists in Iowa are working to stop the bird flu outbreak infecting US dairy cows](https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2024/08/Bird-Flu-Lab.jpg)
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- The U.S. Department of Agriculture is studying pigs, cows and other animals at Iowa’s National Animal Disease Center in an attempt to stop the burgeoning bird flu outbreak.
- Scientists were surprised to suddenly discover infections in the udders and milk of dairy cows this year, as the influenza virus is typically considered a respiratory disease.
- Bird flu was first identified in 1959. Since then, it has been detected in a growing number of animals ranging from dogs and cats to sea lions and polar bears, and now dairy cows.
At first glance, it looks like an unassuming farm. Cows are scattered across fenced-in fields. A milking barn sits in the distance with a tractor parked alongside. But the people who work there are not farmers, and other buildings look more like what you’d find at a modern university than in a cow pasture.
Welcome to the National Animal Disease Center, a government research facility in Iowa where 43 scientists work with pigs, cows and other animals, pushing to solve the bird flu outbreak currently spreading through U.S. animals — and develop ways to stop it.
Particularly important is the testing of a cow vaccine designed to stop the continued spread of the virus — thereby, hopefully, reducing the risk that it will someday become a widespread disease in people.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture facility opened in 1961 in Ames, a college town about 45 minutes north of Des Moines. The center is located on a pastoral, 523-acre site a couple of miles east of Ames’ low-slung downtown.
It’s a quiet place with a rich history. Through the years, researchers there developed vaccines against various diseases that endanger pigs and cattle, including hog cholera and brucellosis. And work there during the H1N1 flu pandemic in 2009 — known at the time as “swine flu” — proved the virus was confined to the respiratory tract of pigs and that pork was safe to eat.
The center has the unusual resources and experience to do that kind of work, said Richard Webby, a prominent flu researcher at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis.
A large animal containment building is seen on the campus of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Animal Disease Center research facility in Ames, Iowa, on Aug. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
“That’s not a capacity that many places in the U.S. have,” said Webby, who has been collaborating with the Ames facility on the cow vaccine work.
The campus has 93 buildings, including a high-containment laboratory building whose exterior is reminiscent of a modern megachurch but inside features a series of compartmentalized corridors and rooms, some containing infected animals. That’s where scientists work with more dangerous germs, including the H5N1 bird flu. There’s also a building with three floors of offices that houses animal disease researchers as well as a testing center that is a “for animals” version of the CDC labs in Atlanta that identify rare (and sometimes scary) new human infections.
About 660 people work at the campus — roughly a third of them assigned to the animal disease center, which has a $38 million annual budget. They were already busy with a wide range of projects but grew even busier this year after the H5N1 bird flu unexpectedly jumped into U.S. dairy cows.
“It’s just amazing how people just dig down and make it work,” said Mark Ackermann, the center’s director.
The virus was first identified in 1959 and grew into a widespread and highly lethal menace to migratory birds and domesticated poultry. Meanwhile, the virus evolved, and in the past few years has been detected in a growing number of animals ranging from dogs and cats to sea lions and polar bears.
Despite the spread in different animals, scientists were still surprised this year when infections were suddenly detected in cows — specifically, in the udders and milk of dairy cows. It’s not unusual for bacteria to cause udder infections, but a flu virus?
“Typically we think of influenza as being a respiratory disease,” said Kaitlyn Sarlo Davila, a researcher at the Ames facility.
Much of the research on the disease has been conducted at a USDA poultry research center in Athens, Georgia, but the appearance of the virus in cows pulled the Ames center into the mix.
Amy Baker, a researcher who has won awards for her research on flu in pigs, is now testing a vaccine for cows. Preliminary results are expected soon, she said.
USDA spokesperson Shilo Weir called the work promising but early in development. There is not yet an approved bird flu vaccine being used at U.S. poultry farms, and Weir said that while poultry vaccines are being pursued, any such strategy would be challenging and would not be guaranteed to eliminate the virus.
Baker and other researchers also have been working on studies in which they try to see how the virus spreads between cows. That work is going on in the high-containment building, where scientists and animal caretakers don specialized respirators and other protective equipment.
The research exposed four yearling heifers to a virus-carrying mist and then squirted the virus into the teats and udders of two lactating cows. The first four cows got infected but had few symptoms. The second two got sicker — suffering diminished appetite, a drop in milk production and producing thick, yellowish milk.
The conclusion that the virus mainly spread through exposure to milk containing high levels of the virus — which could then spread through shared milking equipment or other means — was consistent with what health investigators understood to be going on. But it was important to do the work because it has sometimes been difficult to get complete information from dairy farms, Webby said.
“At best we had some good hunches about how the virus was circulating, but we didn’t really know,” he added.
USDA scientists are doing additional work, checking the blood of calves that drank raw milk for signs of infection.
A study conducted by the Iowa center and several universities concluded that the virus was likely circulating for months before it was officially reported in Texas in March.
The study also noted a new and rare combination of genes in the bird flu virus that spilled over into the cows, and researchers are sorting out whether that enabled it to spread to cows, or among cows, said Tavis Anderson, who helped lead the work.
Either way, the researchers in Ames expect to be busy for years.
“Do they (cows) have their own unique influenzas? Can it go from a cow back into wild birds? Can it go from a cow into a human? Cow into a pig?” Anderson added. “Understanding those dynamics, I think, is the outstanding research question — or one of them.”
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