Connect with us

Illinois

Bird flu Illinois: Latest cases and what you should know as virus spreads

Published

on

Bird flu Illinois: Latest cases and what you should know as virus spreads


A number of bird flu cases have been reported in the Chicago area in recent weeks, leading to many questions about how quickly the virus is spreading and how worried residents should be.

The spread comes amid a “concerning” new mutation in bird flu that may indicate the virus could begin to more easily infect humans.

Bird flu has been spreading, killing millions of wild and domestic birds worldwide over the last two years, among other animals.

Nationwide, the virus has been detected in 84 commercial and backyard flocks in the last month, with 10.7 million birds on those sites, according to the latest online data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It has also been confirmed in dozens of dairy farms.

Advertisement

While human cases are rare and are mostly found among farmworkers, one person has died from bird flu — a Louisiana man over the age of 65 who was hospitalized with severe respiratory symptoms.

In the Midwest, cases have been confirmed in Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Wisconsin.

Here’s what to know:

Where have cases been detected in Illinois?

Matteson Farm

Most recently, a family-run farm in south suburban Matteson was left grappling after a bird flu outbreak wiped out its entire flock.

Advertisement

Kakadoodle Farm is now looking into how to get back and running after losing its flock of nearly 3,000 hens.

Owners MariKate and Marty Thomas were first tipped off last week when they walked into their coop and discovered that about 30 hens had died without symptoms. The couple initially thought that freezing temperatures were to blame — until the next day, when the number of deaths tripled.

After talking to their local veterinarian, the U.S. Department of Agriculture was called in. USDA officials arrived at the farm on Jan. 17 and later that day confirmed that the birds had bird flu.

USDA officials told the couple their flock was likely infected by wild birds getting into the chicken feed.

“This means that we will loose our entire flock,” the owners wrote in a message to supporters. “Ever since Marty survived cancer, we’ve poured everything we have into Kakadoodle. With God, will survive this as well. But Kakadoodle is still a fragile startup. Financially and otherwise. And we need your support now more than ever.”

Advertisement

DuPage County

Earlier this month, a bald eagle found on a DuPage County street was euthanized after it was determined the animal was suffering from bird flu.

According to a statement from Forest Preserves of DuPage County, the bird was brought to the DuPage Wildlife Conservation Center after it was found standing on a street in suburban Hinsdale.

Officials said the eagle was showing “clinical signs of bird flu infection,” and veterinarians were forced to euthanize the bird.

Lincoln Park Zoo

Advertisement

Bird flu is also being cited as the cause of the recent deaths of a Chilean flamingo and harbor seal at Lincoln Park Zoo.

The flamingo, named Teal, hatched last fall and “was just getting acquainted with her flock and keepers,” the zoo said in a statement.

The 7-year-old seal, named Slater, “was a beloved seal known for his rambunctious and curious nature. He was a quick learner and often could be seen participating in training sessions with keepers. Both will be deeply missed,” the zoo’s statement said.

The flamingo died Jan. 8, and the seal died Jan. 9, the zoo said.

Zoo officials say it was “near certain” that the disease derived from contact with a waterfowl that was infected with the virus.

Advertisement

Other cases

While no commercial flocks or cattle in Illinois have reported detected bird flu cases, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources said it was tracking “a large event of waterfowl mortality at numerous locations throughout Illinois.”

Detections are being tracked by the IDNR here.

“While avian influenza generally poses a low risk to the population, it is essential to take the necessary steps to avoid exposure, and to seek treatment quickly if you are exposed,” Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Sameer Vohra said in a statement. “We encourage all Illinoisans to follow the advice of the experts at IDNR in order to avoid contact with sick birds, and to take any potential exposure seriously. These common-sense steps can help reduce the likelihood of spreading this illness.”

What is bird flu?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bird flu is “a disease caused by avian influenza A viruses that usually spread between birds.”

Advertisement

Who can contract bird flu?

Bird flu has been spreading for years in wild birds, chickens, turkeys and many other animals. It was first confirmed in U.S. dairy cattle in March.

While the virus typically doesn’t infect humans, one subtype, known as H5, is spreading around the globe in wild birds and causing outbreaks in U.S. poultry and dairy cows. This particular strain, known as H5N1, has also led to human infections.

In total six subtypes of bird flu viruses have infected humans, according to the CDC. They include: H3, H5, H6, H7, H9, and H10.

CDC officials said that bird flu is still mainly an animal health issue and that the risk to the general public remains low. There has been no documented spread of the virus from person to person, said the CDC’s Dr. Demetre Daskalakis.

What about pets?

Though cases of infection are rare, cats also seem especially susceptible to the bird flu virus, or Type A H5N1. Even before the cattle outbreak, there were feline cases linked to wild birds or poultry. Since March, dozens of cats have caught the virus. These include barn and feral cats, indoor cats, and big cats in zoos and in the wild.

Advertisement

A voluntary recall was issued for a line of raw and frozen pet food after a cat died of bird flu, a case that Oregon officials connected to the feline’s contaminated food.

Dogs seem to be less vulnerable than cats, but they should eat only thoroughly cooked foods, Bailey said.

Still, the IDNR recommends that “due to risk of infection to other animals, dogs and other pets should be kept away from the carcasses of birds that may have died from HPAI.”

Stephany Lewis with the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine urged pet owners to rethink what they feed their dogs.

“Our recommendation is to not feed them any raw diets. Even some of the commercially made raw diets have been associated with avian influenza cases and even death in some domestic cats,” she said.

Advertisement

“If you have an outdoor cat, make sure you are keeping them indoors. If you have dogs, make sure you are monitoring them outside,” she said.

Pet owners should look for symptoms including fever, lethargy, tremors, or respiratory issues and seek veterinary care immediately.

Lewis also recommends people with backyard poultry restrict free roam, cover enclosures and line them with hardware cloth to keep out rodents, which can transmit the disease.

“Influenza is famous for its ability to mutate. It can adapt to different host species really, really easily,” said Lewis.

How is bird flu spread?

When a person does contract bird flu, it’s most often through direct contact with infected birds or other infected animals, the CDC states.

Advertisement

While no known human-to-human spread of the virus has been reported in cases currently circulating, there have been some such cases in years past, but even then, the cases were limited.

“The spread of bird flu viruses from one infected person to a close contact has occurred rarely in other countries in the past, and when it has happened, it has been limited and not sustained, and did not spread beyond close contacts,” the CDC reported.

How worried should you be?

 Dr. Robert Murphy, interim chief of Northwestern University’s Infectious Disease department, is urging federal and state officials to keep a wary eye on bird flu, and the implications of its spread.

“There seems to be more and more herds of cattle being infected, and more and more birds being diagnosed,” he said.

Murphy warns that things can change quickly.

Advertisement

“These things mutate, and when they mutate, things can change,” he said. “The disease can get more dangerous or it can get more infectious.”

A genetic analysis suggests the bird flu virus already mutated inside the Louisiana patient, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention previously said.

Scientists believe the mutations may allow the virus to better bind to receptors in the upper airways of humans — something they say is concerning but not a cause for alarm.

Michael Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infectious disease researcher, likened this binding interaction to a lock and key. To enter a cell, the virus needs to have a key that turns the lock, and this finding means the virus may be changing to have a key that might work.

“Is this an indication that we may be closer to seeing a readily transmitted virus between people? No,” Osterholm said. “Right now, this is a key that sits in the lock, but it doesn’t open the door.”

Advertisement

The CDC said its findings about the mutations were “concerning,” but the risk to the general public from the outbreak “has not changed and remains low.”

Still, Osterholm said, scientists should continue to follow what’s happening with mutations carefully.

“There will be additional influenza pandemics and they could be much worse than we saw with COVID,” he said. “We know that the pandemic clock is ticking. We just don’t know what time it is.”

“Virus hunter” Mary Rodgers, an associate research fellow at Abbott, agreed.

“We certainly have been keeping an eye on H5N1, which is avian influenza, in particular in the U.S. because we’re seeing more and more human cases lately,” Rodgers told NBC Chicago last month. “These are primarily in people who are at risk because they’re interacting with livestock … but that could always change. And so that’s why we have to keep an eye on it as people get cases.”

Advertisement

Some experts say the signs are going in the wrong direction.

“The traffic light is changing from green to amber,” Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, who studies infectious diseases, told NBC News. “So many signs are going in the wrong direction.”

What about eating eggs?

As the bird flu outbreak continues, the average cost of eggs has also skyrocketed.

In December, the USDA reported over 18 million birds were affected, with the average typical cost for a dozen eggs jumping 60% over the last year.

In a statement to NBC 5, the American Egg Board says the volatility reflects many factors, with prices driven by supply and demand.

Advertisement

“The national egg supply has been tight due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza—also known as HPAI or bird flu—which is devastating to egg farmers. In the U.S. we’ve lost about 40 million laying hens this past year to bird flu. As a result, some retail locations and different parts of the country are experiencing intermittent shortages. At the same time, the volume of eggs sold at retail has been up year-over-year for 21 consecutive months, and we’re just coming out of the highest demand season of the year—the winter holidays—when eggs sales increase significantly due to holiday baking and entertaining. These two forces combined—tight supply and high demand—are directly causing the spike in prices we’ve seen recently. The good news is that egg farmers are extremely resilient, and our farms are recovering faster. Keeping their birds safe and healthy is every egg farmer’s top priority, and they are working around the clock to protect their birds, replenish supply and keep those eggs coming. While we are all feeling the pressure of increased costs in food, eggs remain a great value among healthy proteins available today. A dozen large eggs amounts to 1.5 pounds of one of the highest quality, most versatile proteins you can find in the grocery store.”

Although more expensive, experts advise eating eggs is still safe.

“As long as poultry products are properly cooked, there is no concern,” said Lewis.

An ongoing bird flu outbreak is impacting Illinois in many ways, including rising egg prices, concern for wildlife and our health. NBC 5’s Kate Chappell reports.

What are the symptoms of bird flu?

According to the CDC, symptoms typically range from no symptoms at all to mild symptoms, though some may experience more moderate to severe complications.

Advertisement

The most common symptom associated with recent infections has been eye redness.

Mild signs and symptoms may include:

  • eye redness and irritation (conjunctivitis)
  • mild fever (temperature of 100ºF [37.8ºC] or greater) or feeling feverish
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • runny or stuff nose
  • muscle or body aches
  • headaches
  • fatigue

Less common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting.

Signs and Symptoms of Moderate to Severe Disease

  • high fever
  • shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • altered consciousness
  • seizures

Symptoms in pets

Cats sick with bird flu might experience loss of appetite, lethargy and fever.

If your cat is usually playful and likes to look out the window, but instead has been sleeping all the time or hiding from you, take note,” Dr. Michael Q. Bailey, president-elect of the American Veterinary Medical Association, said. “There’s something wrong.”

Advertisement

They could have reddened or inflamed eyes and discharge from the eyes and nose. They might have difficulty breathing or have tremors or seizures.

If your cat is sick, call your veterinary clinic and keep the cat away from anyone with a weakened immune system.

How is it treated?

There are flu antiviral drugs that can treat infections, but those who are infected should be treated as soon as possible, experts say. The treatments work best if given within 48 hours of developing symptoms.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Illinois

Illinois Basketball Bounces Back With Pivotal Win Over Ohio State

Published

on

Illinois Basketball Bounces Back With Pivotal Win Over Ohio State


If No. 18 Illinois was going to start turning its season back around, it was almost certainly going to need a hand from its freshmen.

But with streaking Ohio State in Champaign on Sunday, Will Riley and Morez Johnson Jr. didn’t just offer a hand – they threw the Illini on their backs and galloped to what may be remembered as a pivotal 87-79 win over the Buckeyes.

Riley exploded for 20 of his 24 points in the second half, Johnson had 14 points and 15 rebounds for his third double-double of the season, and they combined to key a 40-18 run that spun around an 11-point deficit and sent the Buckeyes packing.

The Illini (15-7, 7-5 Big Ten) celebrated the healthy return of center Tomislav Ivisic (mono) by outrebounding Ohio State 43-31 and hammering the Buckeyes (13-9, 5-6) inside – especially in the second half. Illinois outscored the visitors 52-30 in the paint.

Advertisement

Illinois’ increasingly painful three-point-shooting struggles continued Sunday (4-for-20, 20 percent), but the Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight got wise and found a much easier target when shooting from point-blank range. Johnson’s beast-mode performance – including seven offensive rebounds and several putback dunks – and Ivisic’s efficiency inside (4-for-6 shooting inside the arc) helped keep the Illini afloat when it appeared for all the world that they were going under.

A stronger defensive effort in the second half – Ohio State was held to 30.6 percent shooting after the break – was another difference-maker, as Kasparas Jakucionis, Kylan Boswell, Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn and others did an excellent job of contesting shots. Roughly midway through the half, with the Illini still trailing by two, Buckeyes guard John Mobley Jr. curled around a pick to find daylight – until the 6-foot-6 Jakucionis came soaring in to snuff it.

But the day belonged to Riley. His three-pointer and three-point play on back-to-back possessions tied the game at 59 with 10:48, and his 6-for-6 shooting from the free-throw line over the final 2:11 helped prevent any late-game OSU heroics.

Boswell chipped in 14 points and Ivisic matched Johnson’s double-double (12 points and 10 rebounds) for the Illini, who ended the Buckeyes’ three-game win streak and gained some footing with a rocky remaining Big Ten schedule still ahead.

Advertisement

OSU’s Royal led the game with 29 points.

3 Takeaways From Illinois Basketball’s Loss at Nebraska

Former Illini Kofi Cockburn to Return to Champaign for Jersey Ceremony

The Athletic Calls Illinois Basketball a March Madness ‘Wild Card’





Source link

Continue Reading

Illinois

Illinois State pays homage to Redbird legend with an MVC victory

Published

on

Illinois State pays homage to Redbird legend with an MVC victory


(25News Now) – Illinois State was able to cap off a memorable night for an all-time Redbirds legend with a win to get back to .500 in MVC play.

They took down Valparaiso 86-78 off the back of Chase Walker’s 24 points, as the Redbirds honored recent Naismith Hall of Fame inductee Doug Collins at halftime. The Redbirds also recently renamed their court after the great.

You can watch 25News – any newscast, anywhere – streaming LIVE on 25NewsNow.com, our 25News mobile app, and on our WEEK 25News SmartTV streaming app. Learn more about how you can get connected to 25News streaming live news here.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Illinois

Deadspin | Ohio State hopes to stay 'dialed in' vs. No. 18 Illinois

Published

on

Deadspin | Ohio State hopes to stay 'dialed in' vs. No. 18 Illinois


Jan 30, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes guard Micah Parrish (8) holds the ball as Penn State Nittany Lions forward Zach Hicks (24) defends during the first half at Rec Hall. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

Ohio State will seek its fourth straight win when it faces struggling No. 18 Illinois on Sunday afternoon in Champaign, Ill.

The Buckeyes (13-8, 5-5 Big Ten) have turned around their season with strong defense and the guard play of John Mobley Jr. and Bruce Thornton.

It’s been a good stretch for Ohio State.

After upsetting then-No. 11 Purdue on Jan. 21, the Buckeyes posted consecutive routs of Iowa (82-65 score) on Monday and at Penn State (83-64) on Thursday.

Advertisement

“That’s two games in a row that defensively we have been dialed in and really done a good job, and I think two games in a row we’ve rebounded really well now,” Ohio State coach Jake Diebler said.

“You’ve got to know that every single game you can’t sit and be too happy on your performance. We’ll celebrate this one, and then we’ve got to turn the page quickly. I’m proud of our guys for battling. That’s now two straight road games. We’ve got another tough one here coming up.”

Illinois (14-7, 6-5) has not been able to overcome the absence of center Tomislav Ivisic, who has missed the past three games due to mononucleosis.

That was never more evident than during an 80-74 overtime loss Thursday to a Nebraska team that had lost six straight.

Illini coach Brad Underwood criticized his players’ shot selection.

Advertisement

“Stunk. It’s terrible,” he said. “But that’s part of the problem, not having Tomi, and that’s one of the things that we’ve got to get figured out, because I have no idea when we get him back.”

Ivisic has averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds in 18 games this season.

“It’s big, for sure,” sophomore guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn said of not having Ivisic. “Tomi is a great player. He’s one of our starting guys, one of our best players for sure. That’s not an excuse. We have to have the next-man-up mentality.”

Underwood hinted on his post-game radio show Thursday that changes may be in the offing against Ohio State.

Advertisement

“I’ve got to do something with the starting lineup,” he said. “… We don’t know when we’re getting Tomi back, so we’ve got to figure it out in the meantime.”

In contrast, Diebler said he likes the combo of Mobley — a freshman — and Thornton, a junior.

Mobley had 19 points and eight assists against Penn State in embracing an expanded role with guard Meechie Johnson missing the past 11 games to tend to personal matters.

“It feels good,” Mobley said. “My whole life growing up, everybody labeled me as just a shooter, but it feels good to showcase my all-around game. Defense, offense, getting people involved, getting to the basket, also shooting.”

His play has drawn attention of the defenses, making Thornton more dangerous.

Advertisement

Thornton had 17 points vs. the Nittany Lions and is 11 for 18 from 3-point range during Ohio State’s winning streak.

“It was great because we were able to get Bruce open looks from three because we were able to move them around some, and I think that’s really important for us,” Diebler said. “We’ve got to continue to be versatile on the perimeter.”

–Field Level Media



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending