The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging state and local health officials to continue aggressive monitoring for influenza cases over the summer season to track any potential human infections of the H5N1 virus, also known as bird flu. The CDC emphasized the importance of maintaining heightened awareness of influenza transmission during the summer months, particularly in light of an outbreak of the H5N1 virus in poultry and U.S. dairy cattle. Local health officials are advised to work with laboratories to increase submissions of positive flu virus samples for subtyping, which helps determine whether an influenza sample is a common, seasonal flu virus or a novel virus like the bird flu.
The CDC held a meeting with various health leaders, including CDC Influenza Division Director Vivien Dugan, to discuss the need for continued surveillance of influenza cases. Only two known cases of human H5N1 infections have been reported in the United States, with the first case in 2022 and the most recent case involving a dairy farm worker in Texas. The virus has been detected in millions of wild aquatic birds, poultry, and backyard flocks across the country since January 2022. The first known transmission of the virus to dairy cattle was reported in Texas in March, with outbreaks in 51 dairy herds across nine U.S. states to date.
There is concern that the spread of bird flu in animals could potentially lead to a new epidemic or pandemic, although no cases of human-to-human transmission have been reported. The CDC issued a health alert in response to the positive case of the Texas dairy farmer but stated that the risk of infection to the general public remains low. Individuals working with birds or livestock are advised to use personal protective equipment to lower the risk of H5N1 infection. Symptoms of the virus can include acute respiratory illness, conjunctivitis, sore throat, fever, coughing, and shortness of breath.
According to the World Health Organization, there have been 889 human cases of bird flu infections from 2003 to April 2024 across 23 countries, with 52 percent resulting in death. The CDC’s recommendations for continued surveillance and testing for influenza cases over the summer aim to track any potential human infections of the H5N1 virus. By maintaining a heightened awareness of influenza transmission and working with laboratories to subtype positive flu virus samples, health officials can better identify and respond to novel viruses like the bird flu.
The CDC’s efforts to encourage state and local health officials to stay vigilant in monitoring influenza cases address the ongoing threat posed by the H5N1 virus and the potential for human infections. Collaboration between health agencies, laboratories, and industry partners is critical in tracking and containing the spread of the virus. By following CDC guidelines and using personal protective equipment, individuals working with birds or livestock can minimize the risk of H5N1 infection and help prevent further transmission of the virus. With continued surveillance and testing, health officials can effectively monitor and respond to any potential outbreaks of the bird flu in the United States.
