Alpacas test positive for H5N1 bird flu for the first time

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, has been detected in alpacas for the first time. The US Department of Agriculture’s National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed the presence of the virus in alpacas on a farm in Idaho. These alpacas had been in close proximity to infected poultry that were culled in May. The gene sequence of the virus in the alpacas suggests it is closely related to H5N1 viruses found in dairy cattle. While human cases of bird flu have been reported sporadically, there have been no reports of person-to-person transmission during the current outbreak in US cattle.