Bird flu cases in the U.S. have occurred in six states this year

Four farm workers who helped slaughter poultry in Washington state, U.S., were found to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1), bringing the number of states with human avian influenza cases to six in the U.S. this year, health and medicine webzine ‘Health Day’ reported on the 22nd (local time). ) reported.

Washington state health officials announced, “This case occurred on a farm where avian influenza occurred in chickens,” and “This is the first presumptive case of human H5 virus under investigation in Washington state.” “Approximately 800,000 birds were euthanized on October 15 after tests by the Washington State Department of Agriculture revealed they were infected with avian flu,” health officials said. “As a result, we discovered four cases,” he said. The samples have been delivered to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for detailed testing, and those infected have experienced mild symptoms and are being treated with antiviral medication.

The latest case has raised concerns among public health experts that the avian flu that sickens dairy cows and poultry will eventually lead to human-to-human transmission.

In its latest bird flu update, the CDC announced that “avian flu infection has been confirmed in 27 people in the United States since April 2024.” “Nine of these cases are associated with exposure to poultry infected with H5N1 avian influenza, and 17 are associated with contact with dairy cows infected with avian influenza,” the CDC said. “Among the cases of contact with dairy cows, there are 13 in California alone, of which 7 “The case was confirmed last week,” he said.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that the only cases of human avian influenza infection in California have been reported in workers who had contact with infected cattle. These workers contracted conjunctivitis and experienced mild symptoms, but recovered. Since an outbreak of avian influenza was first identified in dairy cattle in March, more than 330 dairy herds in 14 states across the United States have been infected.

Meanwhile, a group of potential H5N1 human cases in Missouri, which could mark the first human-to-human transmission of bird flu in the United States, remain under investigation by the CDC. Antibody testing to confirm H5N1 infection for these people is still on hold.

After a patient with bird flu was hospitalized last August, it was later confirmed that the patient may have infected one family member and two hospital employees. It is reported that the first patient had no contact with birds or cows. In a health alert issued late last month, the CDC said, “In Missouri, we confirmed four additional medical staff who later developed mild respiratory symptoms,” raising concerns about human-to-human transmission.