A leading research laboratory at Texas Tech University (BTRL) was instrumental in identifying the first case of a deadly avian flu strain (HPAI) A (H5N1) transferring from a mammal (a dairy cow) to a human. This significant discovery was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, with Steve Presley, director of The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) and the BTRL, and Cynthia Reinoso Webb, TIEHH’s biological threat coordinator, as contributing authors.
The case emerged when a farm employee, who had no interaction with sick or dead birds but was in contact with dairy cattle, began to show eye symptoms. The regional health department collected samples for potential influenza A testing. The first round of tests was carried out at the BTRL, a vital part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Laboratory Response Network-Biological (LRN-B), located at TIEHH.
Presley emphasized the significance of this development. He pointed out that the virus jumping from birds to mammals, specifically dairy cows, and then to humans, is a pivotal discovery. The publication in the New England Journal of Medicine sets the stage for future research on the evolution of this virus.
The BTRL’s involvement exemplifies the ongoing collaboration among regional, state, and federal public health partners. As a member of the CDC’s LRN-B, the lab has the capacity to test for numerous biological threats, including emergent ones, explained Reinoso Webb.
Their standby status allowed the Texas Tech BTRL team, led by Reinoso Webb, to act swiftly in response to the regional public health authority’s needs. Recognizing the potential risk of the virus, the team prioritized testing in the safest laboratory available.
The team received the samples in the early evening and reported results to regional, state, and federal authorities within hours. By the next day, the samples were en route to the CDC for further testing and verification.
“Despite the case involving just two samples and one patient, it was quite complex with a lot of federal reporting,” Reinoso Webb recalled. She added that the team had a great line of communication with the CDC and ensured everything was handled correctly. She concluded that this is how the communication and coordination should function in such crucial times.
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