USDA releases H5N1 bird flu genetic data eagerly awaited by scientists
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has been under pressure from scientists both at home and abroad to share more data on the H5N1 bird flu outbreaks in dairy cows, uploaded a large number of genetic sequences of the pathogen late Sunday.
Access to the 239 genetic sequences will help scientists assess whether the dangerous virus has acquired mutations that might make it easier for it to spread to and among mammals, and whether additional changes have been seen as it moves from cow to cow and herd to herd. In addition to virus sequences from cattle, the trove includes sequences of viruses retrieved from cats, chickens, a skunk, a racoon, a grackle, a blackbird, and a goose, the agency said.
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