The First Human Bird Flu Death Has Occurred in the United States
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed First case of severe human infection with H5N1 avian influenza in the United States December in Louisiana. this Louisiana Department of Health It was reported on Monday that the patient had died.
LDH revealed that the patient was over 65 years old, had underlying medical conditions, and contracted avian influenza after exposure to wild birds and non-commercial backyard chicken flocks. “LDH’s extensive public health investigation found no additional cases of H5N1 and no evidence of human-to-human transmission,” the department wrote. “This patient remains the only human case of H5N1 in Louisiana.” CNN Health reported that the patient The patient suffers from Avian influenza virus D1.1 cladewhich is different from the strain circulating in dairy cows.
When patients first became ill in December, the CDC said sporadic severe cases of H5N1 avian influenza were not uncommon. The H5N1 virus has been associated with severe human illness and death in other countries in 2024 and before. As of press time, the CDC had not reported the patient’s death.
This happened about two months later Canadian teenager hospitalized Suffering from H5N1 avian influenza. The Public Health Agency of Canada said the virus is “associated with an ongoing outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in poultry in British Columbia.” However, Canadian public health officials cited privacy concerns No update on the patient’s condition has been provided. or the source of the virus, even if their investigation has concluded.
In the past few months, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Influenza Surveillance System has announced two human cases of avian influenza that were not clearly linked to exposure to sick animals— Missouri Adult Reported in early September and late November, a kid in california.
Risks to the public (i.e. people who do not have direct contact with farm animals, especially sick animals) stay lowaccording to the CDC. Many infectious disease experts and scientists have continued to call for more alert and action regarding the current bird flu outbreak, especially after the first reports of avian flu in pigs this fall. While again emphasizing that the risk to the public is low, the CDC says bird flu is spreading to a new species of mammal “always caring”, especially pigs, as they are particularly susceptible to influenza viruses.
What’s more, the spread of avian influenza overlaps with new interest in avian influenza. The health trend of drinking raw milk. November, Raw milk sold in California Recalled due to containing avian influenza virus.
Two indoor cats that ate the raw milk and died tested positive for influenza A (of which H5N1 avian influenza is a subtype), a rare condition in cats. According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, The department is “These suspected cases of H5 avian influenza are being considered and confirmatory testing is ongoing,” noting that a nationwide outbreak of H5 avian influenza has occurred in other cats that have contracted the virus after consuming infected raw milk. Recently, pet food company Northwest Naturals recall a batch The company’s raw turkey pet food was shut down after an indoor cat died from bird flu linked to the product.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in the past 30 days, 182 confirmed cases Cattle in two states have been infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus. This brings the total number of confirmed cases in cattle to 917 across 16 states.
The fact that bird flu is found in raw milk isn’t necessarily surprising since raw milk doesn’t go through the pasteurization process, which can inactivate harmful bacteria or viruses like bird flu, but it raises concerns about another route of concern, although this route has not been reported to cause disease in humans – people could theoretically be exposed to avian influenza.
As long as animals and humans live, work, and gather with each other, viruses have the potential to mutate enough to spread between species. Fortunately, human infections with avian influenza have so far been rare, in part because the virus does not spread easily from animals to humans, or between humans, although sporadic cases have occurred in other countries and the United States. The gap between the likelihood of human exposure to avian influenza compared to the continued spread of avian influenza in animals is narrowing, and understanding of the risks avian influenza poses to public health and its threat to another pandemic is becoming increasingly clear. important.
Here’s information about avian influenza, or bird flu, and how it manifests in humans.
Avian influenza was initially a problem in poultry and birds in the United States, but has spread to dairy cows, which often become infected. have close contact with people. This increases the risk that the virus could one day spread to humans.
What is avian influenza?
in short, Bird flu, also known as bird flua type of influenza that spreads among some animals, is currently causing outbreaks in birds and cattle in the United States. Scientists are paying close attention to mutations that could allow the virus to spread from person to person, which would pose a significant public health threat.
More specifically, avian influenza is a disease caused by infection with influenza A viruses, which are classified as “highly pathogenic” or “low pathogenic”. The current H5N1 virus outbreak in animals is highly pathogenic.
Avian influenza was first discovered and controlled in 1997, but Reappeared in 2003 and began to spread widely among birds.
World Health Organization report Four influenza viruses: A, B, C and D. The World Health Organization says Type A viruses, which are found in humans and different species of animals, are the greatest threat to public health and can cause epidemics. this The 2009 “Swine Flu” Pandemic It is caused by type A virus. seasonal influenza virus Human infections are caused by type A and B viruses.
Over the past few years, avian influenza has ravaged the U.S. poultry industry, causing Kill millions of people Affected or potentially infected birds.
Is bird flu fatal? How many cases have there been in the United States?
66 people have been diagnosed Human cases of H5 (highly pathogenic) avian influenza According to information from the CDC on January 6, in the United States. The vast majority of these were people with direct contact with sick animals, and the CDC’s influenza surveillance system showed no signs of abnormal human influenza activity.
Human cases remain rare, but avian influenza is considered a serious threat to public health because of its historically high mortality rate— about half Cases of H5N1 avian influenza have resulted in deaths since tracking began, according to the World Health Organization. One death from bird flu has been reported in the U.S. Historically, people who have tested positive for the virus had direct contact with sick animals and showed symptoms of infection mild flu-like symptoms.
Is there a bird flu vaccine?
There is currently no avian influenza vaccine available or recommended for people. However, the United States has been investing in developing vaccines that could be used in emergencies. In October, the Strategic Preparedness and Response Authority awarded approximately $72 million to CSL Seqirus, Sanofi and GlaxoSmithKline to Fill and complete extra dose Vaccines available for avian influenza.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced in early July that the government was $176 million for Moderna Developing an influenza mRNA vaccine that could be used if avian influenza begins to spread between humans or becomes a pandemic.
Can I get bird flu from milk, eggs or meat?
There have not been any reports of people getting avian influenza from drinking milk or eating poultry or beef in the United States. The commercial food supply, which is most of the food you buy at your average grocery store, is regulated and meat from affected animals should not be on store shelves.
ever Inactivated avian influenza virus fragments found This has been present in pasteurized milk samples since the virus began to spread to cows. The high-temperature pasteurization process inactivates any viruses or bacteria that could make people sick, including bird flu. Infectious virus found in raw milk, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Reiterating the general health risks of drinking raw milknot only against avian influenza, but also against other pathogens that often live in unpasteurized milk.
On the meat front, cooking ground burgers is also promising Kill avian influenza virusAccording to the Department of Agriculture. The same goes for poultry; according to the CDC, Boiled eggs and poultry An internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit kills viruses, including bird flu.
Regardless, it may be difficult to catch the flu through food or drink, according to Infectious Diseases Experts we interviewed In the past, because influenza (including avian influenza) is a respiratory virus.
If you work directly with animals or livestock, including working on a farm, or even if you Visit a market with livestockyou should look at the specific regulations of the CDC Safety tips to reduce the risk of transmission.
