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Overview of the Case
Health officials have confirmed a case of human bird flu in Missouri, marking the first instance this year not associated with farm work. According to NPR’s Juliana Kim, the individual had no known contact with animals prior to becoming ill. This incident represents the 14th human case of the virus reported in the United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Friday that the Missouri patient was hospitalized and treated with antiviral medications. Fortunately, the individual has since recovered and been discharged. Importantly, the virus has not spread to the patient’s close contacts.
Details on Outbreaks
Currently, there are no known bird flu outbreaks among cattle in Missouri. However, outbreaks have been reported in both commercial and backyard poultry flocks throughout the state this year. In past years, the virus has also been detected in wild birds within the region.
Detection and Confirmation
The case was identified through the state’s routine influenza surveillance testing program. Following this, the CDC confirmed it to be a human case of the H5 subtype of bird flu, as reported by the Missouri health department.
Prior to this case, the U.S. had recorded 10 human cases of bird flu this year—10 in Colorado, two in Michigan, and one in Texas—amid ongoing outbreaks among animals. Notably, only one human case had been reported in previous years, involving a poultry worker in Colorado in 2022.
Emerging Concerns in Animal Populations
In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that a strain of bird flu that had affected millions of birds across the country was also identified in several mammals, including dairy cows.
Common Symptoms in Humans
Research indicates that common symptoms of bird flu in humans may include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, and runny nose.
Some patients have also reported conjunctivitis, or pink eye. According to NBC News’ Aria Bendix, experts suggest that the current strain is not well-adapted for human infection and may not effectively infect the lower respiratory tract.
Contrasting Effects on Animals
It is important to note that the mild nature of human cases contrasts sharply with the virus’s impact on birds and certain mammals.
The highly pathogenic H5N1 strain can lead to significant mortality in birds, including seals, sea lions, foxes, skunks, and cats. John Lednicky, a research professor at the University of Florida, clarified that while the term “highly pathogenic” may evoke concern, it primarily reflects the virus’s impact on poultry rather than humans or mammals.
As this situation evolves, understanding the dynamics of bird flu remains critical for both public health and agricultural practices.