Michigan has detected more dairy cattle herds infected with the H5N1 bird flu than any other state in the U.S., making it ground zero for the disease, the Detroit Free Press reports.
But it may be the numbers are highest in Michigan because the state is being the most vigilant about monitoring the situation.
Dr. Arnold Monto, emeritus professor of epidemiology and global public health at the University of Michigan and co-director of the Michigan Center for Respiratory Virus Research and Response, tells the Freep:
"The main reason we're detecting more infection is because we're doing very good surveillance. Other states need to do the same. ... It's being missed."
The virus is killing turkeys, chickens and wild birds, infecting cows and other mammals, and has sickened three farmworkers in the U.S., two of whom are in Michigan who had close contact with cows. All had mild symptoms.
As of Friday, Michigan recorded 24 outbreaks in dairly cattle herds in 10 counties.
