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MONDAY, April 1, 2024 (HealthDay Information) — An unnamed particular person in Texas had been recognized with the H5N1 avian flu after shut contact with contaminated dairy cattle, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention reported Monday.
It’s solely the second case ever confirmed in america (the primary was in Colorado in 2022), and preliminary evaluation of the pressure within the new case suggests no new mutations of concern.
“This an infection doesn’t change the H5N1 hen flu human well being threat evaluation for the U.S. common public, which CDC considers to be low,” the company mentioned in an announcement.
In response to the CDC, the particular person was recognized with an infection after extended contact with dairy cattle “presumed to be contaminated with HPAI A[H5N1] viruses.”
The affected person’s sickness up to now has been delicate: The one symptom is conjunctivitis (redness) of the attention.
“The affected person was informed to isolate and is being handled with an antiviral drug for flu,” the CDC mentioned.
Human instances of H5N1 are uncommon however do happen sporadically worldwide, the CDC famous.
And it’s maybe unsurprising that such a case occurred in Texas, since H5N1 avian flu has surged amongst livestock there this yr.
In dairy cows, it “was first reported in Texas and Kansas by the U.S. Division of Agriculture [USDA] on March 25, 2024,” the CDC mentioned. “Unpasteurized milk from sick cattle collected from two dairy farms in Kansas and one in Texas, in addition to a throat swab from a cow in one other dairy in Texas, examined optimistic” for the virus.
On March 29, an infection was additionally discovered amongst a herd of dairy cows in Michigan that had acquired cows from Texas, the company famous.
Importantly, the Texas Division of State Well being Companies famous in an alert that cattle infections “don’t current a priority for the business milk provide. Dairies are required to destroy or divert milk from any sick cows, plus pasteurization kills avian flu viruses.”
Nonetheless, the CDC has been monitoring the unfold of avian flu since outbreaks have been first reported amongst wild and domesticated birds in america again in 2021.
Whereas the emergence of a pressure of hen flu that has the power to transmit simply between people is of paramount concern, instances in people up to now have usually arisen solely in individuals who’ve had shut exposures to contaminated animals.
Circulating strains of H5N1 additionally look like simply treatable utilizing customary antivirals.
“Preliminary evaluation of A[H5N1] viruses has not discovered modifications that will make these viruses proof against present FDA-approved flu antiviral drugs, so these are believed to be efficient in opposition to these viruses,” the CDC mentioned.
As for the human case in Texas, “CDC is working with state well being departments to proceed to watch employees who might have been in touch with contaminated or doubtlessly contaminated birds/animals and take a look at these individuals who develop signs,” the company mentioned.
Ought to the virus ever mutate to unfold simply amongst people, the CDC says vaccines have been developed that ought to “present affordable safety in opposition to H5N1 influenza viruses.” The present seasonal flu vaccine wouldn’t assist forestall an infection with avian flu.
Whereas the present menace to the general public is low, the CDC mentioned it continues to watch H5N1 viruses nationally.
“This can be a growing scenario, and CDC will share further updates as new related data turns into obtainable,” the company mentioned.
Within the meantime, the CDC says the chances of contracting avian flu will be diminished by decreasing contact with stay or lifeless animals, akin to “wild birds, poultry, different domesticated birds, and different wild or domesticated animals [including cattle].”
One other large tip to avoiding H5N1: Steer clear of unpasteurized milk merchandise. That features “uncooked” milk, cheeses and different such meals, the CDC mentioned.
“FDA’s longstanding place is that unpasteurized, uncooked milk can harbor harmful microorganisms that may pose critical well being dangers to shoppers, and FDA is reminding shoppers of the dangers related to uncooked milk consumption in mild of the HPAI detections,” the company mentioned.
Extra data
Discover out extra about H5N1 avian flu on the World Well being Group.
SOURCE: U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, assertion, April 1, 2024; Texas Division of State Well being Companies, information launch, April 1, 2024
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