Severe avian flu in the United States: latest updates

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Wednesday confirmed the first serious human case of H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu, in the United States, a zoonotic infection that has fueled fears it could become the next global pandemic.

The serious case involves a southwest Louisiana resident who was reported as presumptive positive for the infection last Friday. The infected patient suffers from a serious respiratory illness linked to the H5N1 virus infection and is currently hospitalized in critical condition, according to Emma Herrock, spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Health, who said the patient had over 65 years old and had underlying health conditions. but that further updates on their condition will not be provided at this time due to patient confidentiality.

Read more: What are the symptoms of bird flu?

This is the 61st case of human infection with H5N1 bird flu in the country since April this year. But the CDC said the pathogen's overall risk to the public remains low and no associated deaths have been reported so far in the United States.

Here's what you need to know.

What is the cause of this serious infection?

The CDC, in its Dec. 18 statement, said that while an investigation was underway, it had been determined that the patient had links to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, making him the first known case of infection in the United States with these origins.

Of the remaining 60 cases, 58 were linked to commercial agriculture37 from dairy herds and 21 from poultry and slaughter operations. The sources of exposure for the other two human cases in the United States remain unknown.

What is the current status of human infections with the H5N1 virus?

Of the human infections recorded in the United States this year, 34, or more than half, occurred in California, with all but one having been exposed to cattle. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on December 18.

The CDC said an infection as severe as that seen in Louisiana was expected given cases in other countries. In Vietnam, a patient who died in March after being diagnosed with severe pneumonia, severe sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed with H5N1 virus infection, according to the World Health Organization. The United States appears to be leading the world in H5N1 infections this year, according to CDC data on bird flu cases reported to the WHO.

Read more: Bird flu virus is one mutation away from becoming more dangerous

The general population faces no immediate threat, according to Mark Mulligan, director of the Center for Immunization and the Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine. Those who come into contact with birds and animals, especially those who work on dairy and livestock farms, are at greatest risk. At present, no person-to-person spread of the virus has been detected.

Right now, we need to let experts do surveillance and sequencing of the virus to see if we see any changes that suggest a significant difference, Mulligan says.

What are the symptoms?

According to the CDC, symptoms of bird flu can vary. Many cases in the United States had symptoms resembling conjunctivitis-like eye problems, including eye redness, discomfort, and discharge.

Some cases also included classic flu-like respiratory symptoms, including cough, headache, runny nose, fever, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, shortness of breath and pneumonia, according to the CDC.

Read more: What are the symptoms of bird flu?

How to prevent infection?

The CDC has issued a number of protective measures, including largely avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals suspected of being infected, as well as their bodily excretions. People who work with livestock and poultry on affected farms are at greater risk of infection and are therefore advised to monitor for any possible symptoms of infection.

The CDC also recommends that those who work with poultry or other animals use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), including coveralls, boots, etc., which should be provided by employers.

Virologist and John Hopkins University professor Andy Pekosz says the serious case in Louisiana reminds us of a simple way to stay safe: stay away from dead animals. You see a dead animal, if you're exposed to dead animals, stay away, he says. In many ways, this is the least likely means of exposure, but in some ways, it is also one of the most preventable means.

Properly cooked poultry and poultry products are safe, and the CDC says that while unpasteurized (raw) milk from infected cows may pose risks to humans, it is not yet known whether viruses from Avian flu can be transmitted through its consumption.

Mulligan and Pekosz say it's also important to get vaccinated against seasonal human flu. They say that if a person were infected with bird flu and human flu simultaneously, it could lead to reassortment and therefore a virus that could spread more easily.

We know this has happened before, because the 1957 flu pandemic and the 1968 flu pandemic were both the result of an exchange of genetic material between a human flu virus and an avian flu virus , explains Pekosz. We know that flu vaccines are not perfect, but they do a good job of reducing infection.

The CDC currently has a program to offer seasonal vaccines to agricultural workers in high-risk scenarios in some states.

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