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US - Third farm worker infected with H5 (presumed H5N1), 2nd case in Michigan - May 30, 2024
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The dairy worker reported a cough, congestion, sore throat and watery eyes. The other two patients had only eye symptoms, health officials said. The farmworker was given antivirals and is recovering from respiratory symptoms, health officials said….
About 350 people in the U.S. have been monitored for bird flu symptoms this year, including at least 220 in Michigan, health officials said.
More than 40 people have been tested for the virus in the U.S., according to the CDC. Numbers from Michigan health officials suggest most of them were in that state.
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Health officials said another farmworker in Michigan has been diagnosed with bird flu, marking the third human case linked to an outbreak in dairy cows in the U.S.
CDC Confirms Second Human H5 Bird Flu Case in Michigan; Third Case Tied to Dairy Outbreak
Risk to general public remains low
Print Press Release
For Immediate Release: Thursday, May 30, 2024 Contact:Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
May 30, 2024 – A second human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infection has been identified in the state of Michigan. This is the third human case associated with an ongoing multistate outbreak of A(H5N1) in U.S. dairy cows. None of the three cases are associated with the others. As with the previous two cases (one in Texas, one in Michigan), the person is a dairy farm worker with exposure to infected cows, making this another instance of probable cow-to-person spread. This is the first human case of H5 in the United States to report more typical symptoms of acute respiratory illness associated with influenza virus infection, including A(H5N1) viruses. CDC continues to closely monitor available data from influenza surveillance systems , particularly in affected states, and there has been no sign of unusual influenza activity in people, including no increase in emergency room visits for influenza and no increase in laboratory detection of human influenza cases.
Based on the information available at this time, this case does not change CDC’s current A(H5N1) bird flu human health risk assessment for the U.S. general public because all three sporadic cases had direct contact with infected cows. Risk depends on exposure, and in this case, the relevant exposure is to infected animals. The risk to members of the general public who do not have exposure to infected animals remains low. However, this development underscores the importance of recommended precautions in people with exposure to infected or potentially infected animals. People with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other infected animals, are at greater risk of infection and should take precautions.
Case Background
A dairy worker with exposure to H5N1-infected cows (at a different farm from the case last week) reported symptoms to local health officials. The patient reported upper respiratory tract symptoms including cough without fever, and eye discomfort with watery discharge. The patient was given antiviral treatment with oseltamivir, is isolating at home, and their symptoms are resolving. Household contacts of the patient have not developed symptoms, are being monitored for illness, and have been offered oseltamivir. No other workers at the same farm have reported symptoms, and all staff are being monitored. There is no indication of person-to-person spread of A(H5N1) viruses at this time.
Specimens were collected from the patient; one of which was positive for influenza A(H5) virus using the CDC test at the state health department laboratory. The specimens were forwarded to CDC for further testing. They were received on May 29, and testing results that night confirmed A(H5) virus infection. Michigan was then notified of the results.
The designation of the influenza virus neuraminidase (the N in the subtype) is pending genetic sequencing at CDC and results will be made available within 1-2 days, if successful. Additional genetic analysis will look for any changes to the virus that could change the agency’s risk assessment.
CDC Activities and Risk Assessment
This case was detected through Michigan’s active monitoring program for people exposed to infected livestock, in collaboration with CDC. The identification of an additional case of H5 is not surprising and shows the importance of a proactive public health response. Given the extent of the spread of this virus in dairy cows, additional human cases in people with higher risk exposures would not be surprising. A CDC priority right now is to prevent additional cases of A(H5N1) infections in dairy herd workers, who are at higher risk of exposure. CDC has previously provided updated interim recommendations for worker protection to include those who work with dairy cows and asked states to provide personal protective equipment to farmworkers. In addition, the agency is conducting ongoing outreach to groups representing farmworkers.
CDC Recommendations
People should wear recommended personal protective equipment when interacting with infected or potentially infected animals and monitor their health for 10 days after their most recent exposure. Learn more about CDC’s recommendations for worker protection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE).
People should avoid close, long, or unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals (including cows).
People should also avoid unprotected exposures to animal poop, bedding (litter), unpasteurized (“raw”) milk, or materials that have been touched by, or close to, birds or other animals with suspected or confirmed A(H5N1) virus.
H5 bird flu is widespread in wild birds worldwide and is causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows with several cases of H5 in U.S. dairy workers.
While the current public health risk is low, CDC is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.
Additional influenza A (H5) case detected in Michigan
May 30, 2024
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is announcing an additional case of influenza A (H5) in a Michigan farmworker, who worked closely with influenza A (H5) positive cows. This worker was employed at a different farm than the case announced on May 22. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to highlight that the risk to the public remains low; this farm worker was quickly provided antivirals and is recovering from respiratorysymptoms.
This virus has been associated with the ongoing multistate outbreak of influenza A (H5N1). As part of the ongoing response, state and local public health are closely monitoring for potential human cases, which can occur sporadically in individuals with close contact to infected animals. It is not unexpected that comprehensive testing is identifying sporadic human infections in farm workers.
“Michigan has led a swift public health response, and we have been tracking this situation closely since influenza A (H5N1) was detected in poultry and dairy herds in Michigan. Farmworkers who have been exposed to impacted animals have been asked to report even mild symptoms, and testing for the virus has been made available,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “With the first case in Michigan, eye symptoms occurred after a direct splash of infected milk to the eye. With this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct exposure to an infected cow. Neither individual was wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). This tells us that direct exposure to infected livestock poses a risk to humans, and that PPE is an important tool in preventing spread among individuals who work on dairy and poultry farms. We have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission, and the current health risk to the general public remains low.”
"In Michigan, we continue to respond to influenza A (H5N1) with a one-health approach, working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to address human and animal health," said Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring. "Proper use of personal protective equipment is the best tool we have to protect farm workers. MDARD is currently offering assistance to dairy farms in need of additional protective equipment. MDARD has and will continue to take bold actions to assist farms impacted by this disease."
MDHHS recommends seasonal flu vaccination for people working on poultry or dairy farms. It will not prevent infection with avian influenza viruses, but it can reduce the risk of coinfection with avian and flu viruses.
Third person in US tests positive for bird flu in connection to outbreak in dairy cattle
By Brenda Goodman, CNN
2 minute read
Updated 1:28 PM EDT, Thu May 30, 2024
A third person in the US has tested positive for H5 bird flu in connection to an outbreak in dairy cattle, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said Thursday. This is the second human case reported in the state.
This time, in addition to the eye symptoms seen in the other recent human infections with this virus, the individual, a farmworker, reported having a cough and other respiratory symptoms that are more typical of human influenza infections, the health department said.
Experts with knowledge of the case said that the addition of respiratory symptoms doesn’t necessarily indicate that the virus has become more dangerous, or that it may transmit more easily from person-to-person. Instead, they say the person likely developed lung symptoms because of the route of infection, perhaps by breathing in infectious aerosols in the milking parlor instead of rubbing their eyes with contaminated hands.
“With the first case in Michigan, eye symptoms occurred after a direct splash of infected milk to the eye. With this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct exposure to an infected cow,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for Michigan said in a news release. “Neither individual was wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). This tells us that direct exposure to infected livestock poses a risk to humans, and that PPE is an important toolin preventing spread among individuals who work on dairy and poultry farms. We have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission, and the current health risk to the general public remains low.”.....
Third person infected in U.S. bird flu outbreak — but with a new symptom
The patient has had a cough, the first case of respiratory illness associated with bird flu in people in the U.S.. There's still no sign the virus is spreading from person to person.
May 30, 2024, 1:18 PM EDT
By Erika Edwards
Another human case of bird flu linked to sick dairy cows has been detected in Michigan, marking the third farmworker diagnosed with the illness in the United States since March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday. None of the cases are connected.
This is the second farmworker in Michigan in a week to be diagnosed with the illness. And a dairy worker in Texas was diagnosed in March. In those cases, the patients' only sign of illness was a pink eye.
This latest case is different, however, because the patient also had a cough that accompanied eye symptoms. The person was given Tamiflu and was reportedly recovering.
All of the farmworkers at this latest Michigan dairy are being monitored for symptoms. The CDC recommended that anyone who comes into contact with a sick cow watch for symptoms for 10 days.
There is no evidence that the virus, an A strain of influenza called H5N1, is spreading from person to person, the CDC said. The infected workers are from different farms and had direct contact with sick cows.... ..The CDC is performing genetic testing on samples of the virus taken from the patient to look for changes that indicate whether it's mutating in ways that would allow it to spread easily from person to person. Those results could be available within days....
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...tom-rcna154697
Second Michigan farmworker tests positive for Avian Flu, third case in U.S.
By Zachary Payne
Published: May. 30, 2024 at 1:16 PM EDT|
Updated: 15 minutes ago
LANSING, Mich. (WILX) - The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has reported a second Michigan farmworker and third person in the U.S. has tested positive for influenza A, also known as bird flu.
The worker was employed at a different farm than the first case that was reported back on May 22. The worker was quickly provided antivirals and is recovering from respiratory symptoms.
“Michigan has led a swift public health response, and we have been tracking this situation closely since influenza A (H5N1) was detected in poultry and dairy herds in Michigan. Farmworkers who have been exposed to impacted animals have been asked to report even mild symptoms, and testing for the virus has been made available,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive....
The worker was employed at a different farm than the first case that was reported back on May 22. The worker was quickly provided antivirals and is recovering from respiratory symptoms.
US - Third farm worker infected with H5 (presumed H5N1), 2nd case in Michigan - May 30, 2024
A third U.S. farm worker infected with bird flu is the first to experience respiratory symptoms ByHelen Branswell
Athird human case of H5 bird flu tied to the ongoing U.S. outbreak in cattle has been detected in a farm worker in Michigan, state health authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The unnamed individual worked on a dairy farm and was in close contact with infected cows, the state health department said in a statement. The farm involved is different from the one where an earlier human case was detected last week.
Whereas the two earlier human cases reported this year experienced only conjunctivitis — known as pink eye — the Michigan worker experienced respiratory symptoms.
With this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct exposure to an infected cow,” Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said in a statement. The individual was not wearing protective equipment, she said.
The worker was given flu antiviral drugs and is recovering, the statement added.
Of the four known cases of H5 infection that have been reported in the United States — ….
Whereas the two earlier human cases reported this year experienced only conjunctivitis — known as pink eye — the Michigan worker experienced respiratory symptoms.
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