‘Severe’ avian influenza in the United States: latest updates
TCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) certain The first “serious” human case in the United States was recorded Wednesday with H5N1 avian influenza, or bird flu, a zoonotic infection that has raised fears it could become the next global pandemic.
The serious case involves a southwest Louisiana resident who was reported Presumably positive infected last Friday. Emma Herrock, spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of Health, said that the infected patient “suffers from acute respiratory illness associated with H5N1 virus infection and is currently in hospital in critical condition,” adding that the patient is over 65 years old and suffers from chronic diseases. Medical conditions but no further updates on their condition will be provided at this time due to patient privacy.
Read more: What are the symptoms of bird flu?
This is the 61st case of human infection with the bird flu virus (H5N1) in the country since April of this year. But the CDC said the overall risk of the disease to the public remains low, and no related deaths have been reported in the United States so far.
Here’s what you should know.
What causes severe infection?
In its Dec. 18 announcement, the CDC said that while it was investigating, the patient was found to have ties to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, making it the first known case in the United States with those origins.
Follower 60 other cases58 were related to commercial agriculture – 37 from dairy herds and 21 from poultry farms and culls. The sources of exposure for the two other human cases in the United States remain unknown.
What is the current status of human H5N1 infection?
Of the human infections recorded in the United States this year, 34 cases, or more than half, were in California, with all but one case being exposed to livestock. Gov. Gavin Newsom responded On December 18th A state of emergency was declared.
The CDC said such “severe” infections detected in Louisiana were expected given cases in other countries. In Vietnam, the patient who He died in March After discovering that he was diagnosed with “severe pneumonia, severe septicemia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome” with the H5N1 virus, according to the World Health Organization. The United States appears to be the leader in H5N1 cases worldwide this year Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data on avian influenza cases reported to the World Health Organization.
Read more: The bird flu virus is one mutation away from becoming more dangerous
According to Mark Mulligan, director of the Vaccine Center and Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, the general population does not face an “immediate threat.” Those who are in contact with birds and animals — especially those who work on dairy farms and cattle ranches — are most at risk. Currently, no person-to-person spread of the virus has been detected.
“We now have to let the experts do the monitoring, and sequence the virus to see if we see any changes that herald any significant difference,” Mulligan says.
What are the symptoms?
According to the CDC, bird flu symptoms can vary. Many cases in the United States have had similar symptoms Eye problems such as conjunctivitisincluding eye redness, discomfort, and discharge.
Some cases also included respiratory symptoms similar to classic flu symptoms, including cough, headache, runny nose, fever, sore throat, body aches, fatigue, shortness of breath, and pneumonia, according to the American “space” website. Center for Disease Control.
Read more: What are the symptoms of bird flu?
How can infection be prevented?
The CDC has issued a number of preventative measures, including Avoid direct contact largely With wild birds and other animals suspected of being infected, as well as their bodily secretions. People who work with livestock and poultry on their affected farms Greater risk of infectionTherefore, it is recommended to monitor any possible symptoms of infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that those who work with poultry or other animals use the correct personal protective equipment (PPE) — including coveralls, shoes, and more — which should be Provided by employers.
Virologist and Johns Hopkins University professor Andy Pekosh says the serious case in Louisiana provides a reminder of an easy way to stay safe: stay away from dead animals. “If you see a dead animal, if you are exposed to dead animals, stay away,” he says. “In many ways, this is the least likely way someone could be exposed, but in some ways, it’s also one of the most preventable ways.”
Properly cooked poultry and poultry products are securityThe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that although unpasteurized (raw) milk from infected cows can pose risks to humans, it is not yet known whether bird flu viruses can be transmitted through consumption. .
Both Mulligan and Pekosh say it’s also important to get the seasonal human influenza vaccine. They say that if there was a case of someone being infected with bird flu and human flu at the same time, it could lead to “reassortment” and thus a virus that could spread more easily.
“We know this has happened before, because the 1957 influenza pandemic and the 1968 influenza pandemic were the result of human and avian influenza viruses exchanging genetic material,” Piekosh says. “We know that flu vaccines are not perfect, but they do a good job of reducing infection.”
The CDC currently has program To provide seasonal vaccinations to farmworkers in high-risk scenarios in some states.