H5N1 influenza has now been detected in pigs. This was something virologists had been worrying about ever since this highly pathogenic strain of bird flu started its rapid global spread in 2020. But why were we worrying specifically about pigs? And does this case – detected on a farm in Oregon on October 29 – change anything?

The detection of H5N1 avian influenza (bird flu) in a pig on an Oregon farm has again raised concerns specifically among virologists who monitor infectious diseases. Although this might seem insignificant compared to the extensive impact bird flu has had on wildlife and agriculture globally,

Although H5N1 has been found in many mammals in the U.S., an infection in a pig could have bigger implications for humans.

The UK government said on Tuesday that cases of bird flu had been confirmed in commercial poultry at premises in Yorkshire, hours after it increased the risk level of the disease from medium to high.

Turkey has reported an outbreak of the highly contagious H5N1 strain of avian influenza on a poultry farm for the first time in over a year, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said on Monday.

The United States Department of Agriculture last week reported that a pig on a backyard farm in Oregon was infected with bird flu.