Viral Bird Influencer Emmanuel the Emu Sparks Concerns Among Virologists
Social Media Posts Raise Questions About Bird Flu Transmission
Virologists Express Shock and Concern
In a surprising turn of events, virologists have expressed shock and concern after viral social media posts from an influencer and farm have raised concerns about the potential transmission of bird flu.
The influencer, who runs the "Knuckle Bump Farms" account on TikTok, has been posting videos of himself interacting with an emu named Emmanuel. However, recent posts have shown Emmanuel exhibiting symptoms of bird flu, including coughing, sneezing, and discharge from his eyes.
"We were shocked to see the videos," said Dr. Sarah Wilkes, a virologist at the University of California, Davis. "Bird flu is a highly contagious virus that can be fatal to birds and humans, and it's very important to take precautions to prevent its spread."
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