What to Know About Fowl Flu within the U.S. After CDC Proclaims First ‘Extreme’ Human Case

Health Bird Flu What to Know About Bird Flu in the U.S. After CDC Announces First ‘Severe’ Human Case What to Know About Bird Flu in the U.S. After CDC Announces First ‘Severe’ Human Case December 19, 2024 3:00 AM EST The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Wednesday the United States’

December 19, 2024 3:00 AM EST

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Wednesday the USA’ first “extreme” human case of H5N1 avian influenza—or hen flu, a zoonotic an infection which has stoked fears of becoming the next global pandemic.

The extreme case entails a resident of southwestern Louisiana who was reported as presumptively positive for an infection final Friday. The contaminated affected person “is experiencing extreme respiratory sickness associated to H5N1 an infection and is presently hospitalized in crucial situation,” in response to Emma Herrock, a spokesperson for the Louisiana Division of Well being, who stated that the affected person is over the age of 65 and has underlying medical situations however that additional updates on their situation is not going to be given at the moment resulting from affected person confidentiality.

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It’s the 61st case of human H5N1 hen flu an infection within the nation since April this yr. However the CDC stated the general threat of the pathogen to the general public stays low, and no associated deaths have been reported within the U.S. thus far.

Right here’s what to know.

What triggered the extreme an infection?

The CDC, in its Dec. 18 announcement, stated that whereas an investigation is underway, the affected person was discovered to have hyperlinks to sick and useless birds in yard flocks, making it the primary identified case of an infection within the U.S. to have these origins.

Of the 60 other cases, 58 have been linked to business agriculture—37 from dairy herds and 21 from poultry farms and culling. The sources of publicity for the 2 different U.S. human instances stay unknown.

What’s the present state of H5N1 human infections?

Of the human infections recorded within the U.S. this yr, 34, or greater than half, have been in California, with all however one uncovered to cattle. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom on Dec. 18 declared a state of emergency.

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The CDC stated that such a “extreme” an infection as was present in Louisiana was anticipated given instances in different international locations. In Vietnam, a affected person who died in March after a prognosis of “extreme pneumonia, extreme sepsis, and acute respiratory misery syndrome” was discovered with an H5N1 an infection, in response to the World Well being Group. The U.S. seems to be main in H5N1 infections internationally this yr, in response to CDC data on bird flu cases reported to the WHO.

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How can an infection be prevented?

The CDC issued various protecting measures, together with largely avoiding direct contact with wild birds and different suspected contaminated animals in addition to their bodily excretions. Individuals who work with cattle and poultry on affected farms have a greater risk of infection, and are thus suggested to observe any doable signs of an infection.

Correctly cooked poultry and poultry merchandise are safe, and the CDC says that whereas unpasteurized (uncooked) milk from contaminated cows can pose dangers to people, it’s not but identified if avian influenza viruses could be transmitted by its consumption.