A man who worked at a bird slaughterhouse in Colorado state is the first human case of H5N1 bird flu in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.
According to the Colorado Department of Health, the patient had mild symptoms of fatigue and is being treated in isolation with the antiviral drug oseltamivir.
Credit: Merrimon/Istock USA confirms first human case of H5N1 avian influenza
The birds at the man’s workplace were euthanized and properly disposed of, according to US health officials.
risk and prevention
The CDC reported that “this case does not change the human risk assessment for the general public,” which is rated “low.”
Infected birds shed the H5N1 virus through saliva, mucous membranes and feces. H5N1 viral infections in humans are rare; However, human infections can occur when enough virus gets in a person’s eyes, nose, or mouth, or is inhaled.
Individuals in close or prolonged unprotected contact (without respiratory or eye protection) with infected birds, or sites that have touched sick birds or their mucous membranes, saliva or feces, may be at increased risk of infection with the H5N1 virus.
As of late last year, H5N1 has been found in birds in 34 US states by a CDC surveillance program.
“The CDC has been tracking the health of more than 2,500 people who were exposed to birds infected with the H5N1 virus and this is the only case found to date. Other people involved in the Colorado slaughter tested negative for H5 virus infection but are being retested as a precautionary measure,” the agency said.
Image: Davit85/istock The environment and living conditions of slaughter birds favor the spread and mutation of viruses
This is the second human case associated with this specific group of H5 viruses, which is currently widespread, and the first case in the United States.
The first international case occurred in December 2021 in the UK in a symptomfree person raising birds.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 880 human infections with earlier H5N1 viruses have been reported worldwide since 2003, however, the H5N1 viruses prevalent in birds around the world today differ from earlier H5N1 viruses.
Bird flu case in China
Also this week, China confirmed its first human case of H3N8 avian influenza. According to China’s National Health Commission (NHC), the virus was identified in a fouryearold boy who had direct contact with birds.
He was hospitalized earlier this month with a fever and other symptoms and was discharged after treatment.