The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health alert after a confirmed case of bird flu in a farm worker in Texas. This marks the second case of the disease in the U.S., following a patient in Colorado who tested positive in 2022 after contact with infected poultry.
The recent case involved a farm worker on a commercial dairy farm in Texas who developed conjunctivitis, or pink eye, in late March. Subsequent testing confirmed a positive diagnosis of bird flu, which had been circulating among the dairy cattle and wild birds in the area. There have been no reports of the virus spreading from cows to humans, and human-to-human transmission has not been identified.
To date, there have been no reports of illnesses or deaths related to the virus in humans. Bird flu is currently circulating among wild birds in the U.S., with outbreaks occurring among poultry and backyard flocks as well. Infections have also been confirmed in cattle in four states – Texas, Kansas, Michigan, and New Mexico – with a likely positive test in Idaho. CDC believes the spread of the virus may be due to the movement of cattle across state lines.
The infected patient did not experience any other symptoms and did not require hospitalization but was isolated and treated. CDC is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and state health departments to monitor individuals exposed to infected animals. It is crucial for those at higher risk of infection to take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of bird flu.
The current risk posed by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1) Virus is considered low by CDC, but it urges people exposed to infected birds, cattle or other animals at higher risk to take extra precautions.
This article highlights that there have been two cases confirmed cases of bird flu
