A human case of bird flu has been confirmed by US health officials in a patient who did not immediately have any known animal exposure.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the patient in the state of Missouri has subsequently recovered after receiving medical attention in a hospital.
According to the CDC, this is the first human case of bird flu in the US in 2024 and the fourteenth overall without a confirmed occupational exposure to sick animals.
According to the organization, there is still little risk to the public based on their present statistics.
A virus called “bird flu” mainly affects birds and other animals. Infections in humans are uncommon.
In contrast to earlier US cases, which were linked to contact with infected cattle or poultry, the Missouri patient is “the first case of H5 without a known occupational exposure to sick or infected animals,” according to a statement released by the CDC on Friday.
The regular surveillance during flu season led to the discovery of the Missouri case. In addition to receiving flu antiviral drugs, the patient had underlying medical issues.
In the US, cows have proven more susceptible to bird flu this year. As of September 3, livestock in 14 states had been impacted by the outbreak, which was first documented in March, according to the CDC.
Although there haven’t been any reports of bird flu epidemics involving cattle in Missouri, health officials have noted cases in poultry this year and in wild birds in the past.
In March 2024, a human case of bird flu was found by US health officials; the patient had been exposed to possibly infected dairy cows.
Since its discovery in China in the 1990s, bird flu has spread to every continent except Antarctica. Although they have been closely watching the illness for years, global health professionals feel that there is currently little risk to humans.
The disease has impacted wildlife all around the world, affecting a wide range of species, including bears, seals, and sea lions.
