Bird flu has been reported to have infected a person in Missouri, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Friday. The adult was admitted to the hospital on August 22 and is now well. She had no known contact with dairy cows or chickens.
The fact that this is the first instance of bird flu in the United States involving an individual who did not work with poultry or dairy cows adds to the rising concern about the possibility of the virus spreading to humans.
According to the CDC, there is still little risk for the general public.
The CDC reports that at least 196 dairy cow herds in 14 states have confirmed H5 influenza virus outbreaks. In 48 states, outbreaks in poultry have been identified. The patient in Missouri is the 15th human case of H5 to be documented in the United States since 2022, according to CDC records. Fourteen workers in poultry and dairy have contracted the virus since the start of 2024. Most had fever and runny nose, along with other moderate flu-like symptoms. Many have had pink eye or conjunctivitis.
There have been no reports of H5 infections in Missouri dairy cattle. A few incidences in backyard flocks, wild birds, and commercial poultry have been documented.
Infectious diseases specialist Dr. William Schaffner of Nashville, Tennessee’s Vanderbilt University Medical Center stated, “Now, the question is: How did the patient become infected?” “We require an extremely in-depth examination.”
There is no proof that the H5 virus, which is causing havoc in dairy cows, is transposing from person to person. According to Schaffner, more laboratory analysis of the Missouri patient’s sample will be necessary to determine whether the H5 virus has undergone any changes that may facilitate human transmission.
“This will be of enormous interest,” he remarked.
Health officials in Missouri stated in a separate announcement that there has been no indication of elevated influenza activity in humans, including no rise in ER visits or laboratory-detected cases of human influenza in the state.
According to the notice from Missouri health officials, a sample from the patient was forwarded to the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory. The CDC received the sample and will be testing it further.
According to Missouri officials, the adult patient tested positive for influenza A and has underlying medical issues. There has been no evidence of virus spread among the patient’s close contacts.