How might bird flu be spreading undetected from cattle to humans, and what does recent research reveal about this transmission?

A recent study of 150 veterinarians who regularly work with cattle found that three tested positive for bird flu antibodies, indicating recent infection. Significantly, none of these veterinarians reported exposure to known infected cattle, suggesting they were exposed to asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic animals that hadn't been tested. This research confirms that cattle can carry and transmit bird flu without showing obvious symptoms, allowing the virus to circulate undetected through herds. The study highlights a critical gap in monitoring, as many cattle with mild or no symptoms likely remain untested while still being capable of transmitting the virus to humans who work closely with them.