The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health alert after a person in Texas was confirmed to have been infected with avian influenza, also known as bird flu. This marked only the second case of the virus infecting a person in the United States, with the first case being diagnosed in a Colorado poultry worker in 2022. The CDC stressed the importance of informing clinicians, state health departments, and the public about the confirmed human infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza, which was likely acquired from dairy cows. The alert recommended that those working with birds or livestock use personal protective equipment to lower the risk of infection, as well as when dealing with people who may have been exposed to the virus.
The CDC alert emphasized that the risks to the general public were low, but urged health care workers to monitor patients showing signs or symptoms of acute respiratory illness or conjunctivitis with relevant exposure history. Patients who may have contracted bird flu were advised to be isolated. Symptoms of bird flu can include conjunctivitis, coughing, sore throat, fever, fatigue, shortness of breath, and other serious symptoms. Over half of the more than 900 human H5N1 cases reported globally since 1997 have resulted in death. The public was also urged to take common-sense measures to prevent infection, such as avoiding sick or dead animals, surfaces contaminated with animal feces, raw milk, or other byproducts when not wearing respiratory or eye protection.
While there have been concerns about bird flu infections potentially sparking a new epidemic or pandemic, there have been no known cases of human-to-human transmission involving the viruses currently circulating. Public health officials expressed concerns following the discovery of the first known H5N1 cases in cattle, the first time the virus had jumped from birds to cows. The outbreak in dairy cows started in late March in Texas, where the human case was also diagnosed, and spread to at least six different states by Friday. The CDC reported that testing of the virus had not revealed any genetic changes that would increase the likelihood of human infections or reduce the effectiveness of antiviral medications to combat infections.
The CDC’s alert is intended to inform clinicians about the recent human infection with avian influenza and urges health care workers to monitor patients with symptoms of the virus. The risks to the general public were considered low, but measures to reduce the risk of infection were recommended, including the use of personal protective equipment when working with birds or livestock. The public was advised to avoid contact with sick animals, surfaces contaminated with animal feces, or raw animal products without wearing proper protection. Despite concerns about the potential for an outbreak, there have been no reported cases of human-to-human transmission of the bird flu viruses currently circulating.
The lone symptom in the Texas patient infected with H5N1 was conjunctivitis, but bird flu can also cause other serious symptoms such as coughing, sore throat, fever, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Over 900 human H5N1 cases globally have been reported since 1997, with more than half resulting in death. The CDC recommended following precautions to reduce the chances of a future outbreak and highlighted the importance of taking common-sense measures to prevent infection, such as avoiding consuming uncooked or undercooked animal products from animals with suspected or confirmed bird flu infection. The CDC’s alert aims to raise awareness about the risks associated with avian influenza and provide guidance for clinicians and the public on how to prevent and manage potential infections.
