The first case of severe bird flu illness in the United States has been verified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The patient, who is presently in a Louisiana hospital, is the first person in the United States to be diagnosed with a serious disease caused by the avian influenza virus.
Patient Information and Virus Type
The infected person was exposed to ill and dead birds in backyard flocks, the CDC said Wednesday. Although the patient’s name has not been made public, the virus strain that is infecting them is similar to one that was recently found in poultry and wild animals in the United States. Human instances of this strain have also been documented in Washington state and Canada.
The Louisiana instance is especially notable since this strain of the virus is different from the type that is present in various groups of dairy cattle and poultry in the United States. The CDC is still looking into the infection’s precise origin.
Past Bird Flu Cases and the Present Situation
According to CDC data, this latest case raises the overall number of human bird flu illnesses in the United States since April to 61. Prior occurrences in the United States have been minor, with patients recovering after getting antiviral therapy, and the majority of human cases have had direct contact with infected cattle or poultry. Notably, a Missouri case did result in hospitalization, although it was thought that the patient’s admittance was caused by other underlying medical issues.
Bird Flu Symptoms and Severity
Bird flu infections in humans can cause anything from minor symptoms like fever, sore throat, and muscular pains to more serious conditions like pneumonia that may necessitate hospitalization. In certain instances, seizures, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may also be symptoms.
The CDC stresses that even while there is still little chance of the disease spreading to the general public, anyone who work with birds, poultry, or cows, or who are exposed to them recreationally, should take the appropriate safety measures to prevent coming into contact with sick animals.
Preventive Actions and Guidelines for Public Health
Because the avian influenza virus is spread by the saliva, mucus, and feces of sick birds, the CDC still advises people to stay away from infected birds. Furthermore, respiratory secretions and body fluids, particularly unpasteurized milk, can spread the virus to other afflicted animals, such dairy cattle.
Following the discovery of the virus in raw milk samples from a farm in California, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued a federal order mandating raw milk sample collection and testing across the country. This move comes after state health officials quarantined the impacted California farm and recalled raw milk products from it.
