First Case of Current H5 Strain of Avian Influenza Detected in the United States

so statement On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the strain detected in a male in Colorado was presumed to be H5N1 avian influenza.

This highly contagious virus Over 30 U.S. States, According to the United States Department of Agriculture. It affects both wild birds and herds of commercial and backyard poultry.

Affected herds of Colorado men working nearby were euthanized and disposed of, Colorado officials said. All workers on the farm were provided with personal protective equipment.

According to the CDC, a positive test result for a man may be due to surface contamination of the nasal membrane without causing infection.

However, “the appropriate public health response at this time is to assume that this is an infectious disease and take steps to contain and treat it,” the authorities said in a statement.

Only one other H5N1 strain is currently tested positive. Older man in england Infected in December 2021 from a flock of ducks kept in his residence. He remained asymptomatic for 10 days under surveillance.

Early strains of H5N1 are linked to Over 860 human cases Between 2003 and 2021, more than 450 deaths were reported to the World Health Organization. No persistent human-to-human transmission has been detected.

Other strains of bird flu can also infect people.

Last week, Chinese officials reported: 4-year-old boy Infected with H3N8 avian influenza, the first known human infection of this strain. The boy was hospitalized with symptoms such as fever.

Authorities found chickens and wild ducks around the boy’s house. None of the boy’s contacts developed the illness.

The risk to the general public from H5N1 is currently low, Shayan Sharif, DVM, PhDA professor at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, is concerned about how widespread the virus is in populations of birds in the United States, Canada and Europe.

Among his concerns is the ability of the influenza virus to exchange genetic material for other strains, even if they are not in the same influenza virus family.

For example, the H5 strain can receive genetic material from the H10 or H1 strain. Strains can even pick up genetic substances that help spread from person to person more easily.

Because of this ability, “it is not possible to actually predict how the virus will alter the genetic material and what ability it will acquire in the process,” Sharif said.

Jeff Bender, DVMA professor at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health said the government should put in place a system to monitor infectious diseases that occur in birds and humans.

“As we saw [COVID-19] Pandemics, viruses change. That’s why it’s important to be aware of these changes, especially with the flu, “he said.

This includes detecting infectious diseases that occur in people who work closely with birds, including those who are unlikely to see a doctor.

“In many cases, people working in commercial poultry farms are not insured or have sufficient health insurance, so symptoms may not be detected. [by a health provider]”The vendor said. “Therefore, it is important to introduce a mechanism to support that detection.

He said that some states allow workers to send text messages or emails to the state’s health ministry in case of illness. These cases can be investigated and monitored by state officials.

According to Sharif, the government is also implementing strict biosecurity measures to slow the spread of H5N1 and other bird flu viruses.

This includes destroying infected herds and limiting direct or indirect contact between wild birds and commercial or backyard poultry.

He said it is also important to minimize the exposure of people to living birds, especially those that may be infected.

This can be done by providing workers with personal protective equipment and training on appropriate safety measures.

Although H5N1 has affected commercial poultry facilities in many US states, Sharif emphasized that the virus is not a food safety concern.

“The chances of catching the virus from chicken and eggs are very limited,” he said. “The virus probably won’t invade human food. Even if it does, the virus is very sensitive to heat. [during cooking].. “