A third person in the US has tested positive for H5 bird flu in connection to an ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This marks the second human case reported in the state and the fourth ever in the US.
The infected farmworker exhibited respiratory symptoms, including a cough and congestion, in addition to eye symptoms typically seen in H5N1 cases. Health experts emphasize that the presence of respiratory symptoms does not necessarily indicate increased danger or easier transmission between humans.
The risk of human-to-human transmission remains low, with direct exposure to infected livestock posing the primary risk. Protective measures such as personal protective equipment (PPE) are crucial for individuals working with affected animals.
About 220 individuals in Michigan are being monitored due to potential exposure to the virus, with blood testing underway to assess past infections or exposures among dairy workers.
The CDC recommends dairy workers to wear PPE and is supporting farms with infected animals to provide protective gear. Research is ongoing to understand how infections are spreading between cows and from cows to humans.
The infected individual is receiving antiviral treatment and isolating at home, with mild symptoms reported. Family members are also receiving precautionary antiviral medication. No other workers at the dairy farm have fallen ill.
The CDC is conducting further testing to determine the specific strain of the virus carried by the patient. Plans are in place to repackage 4.8 million doses of an H5N1 vaccine for distribution, pending regulatory steps.
Michigan's health department advises individuals working on farms to get a seasonal flu vaccine to reduce the risk of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.
