Nevada - H5N1 avian flu in humans 2025

[sharon sanders]

h/t Hogvet51


Bird flu variant found in Nevada cows shows signs of adaptation to mammals

By Brenda Goodman, CNN
Published 3:29 PM EST, Sat February 8, 2025


snip



The USDA report comes as a dairy farm worker in Nevada has screened positive for H5N1, the first human infection identified in the state. The worker’s symptoms include red, inflamed eyes, or conjunctivitis, according to a source familiar with the details who was not authorized to speak to the media. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working to confirm the initial positive test.


more...https://amp-cnn-com.cdn.ampproject.o...mail#webview=1

[sharon sanders]

I am not adding this case to our list until either the state or the CDC issue a statement.

Please see:

Nevada - Avian influenza in mammals and livestock 2024-2025

USDA Confirms Genotype D1.1 In Nevada Dairy Cows - February 5, 2025

[Mary Wilson]

New H5N1 bird flu variant found in Nevada dairy worker as new data shows changes in virus

Feb. 9, 2025 12:10 PM PT
By Susanne Rust

... CNN reported Saturday night that a worker tested positive for the D1.1 version of the H5N1 bird flu virus. Confirmation testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is underway.

The report has not been confirmed by the CDC or Nevada’s Department of Health and Human Services. ...

Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at the Brown University School of Public Health, said if confirmed, it’s a relief this latest dairy worker is reported to have only shown mild symptoms ...

She said there are several hypotheses floating around about why most dairy workers have, thus far, only shown mild symptoms after infection when compared to the severe cases reported in two people who had been exposed to D1.1. (Several poultry workers in Washington were also exposed to D1.1 while depopulating an infected poultry operation. ...

John Korslund, a former USDA scientist, agreed, and said in an email that his biggest concern about the news of a worker possibly being infected “is that the story had to be leaked - i.e. reporting to CNN was unauthorized. Why??” ...

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-02-09/new-h5n1-variant-found-in-nevada-dairy-worker-as-new-data-shows-changes-in-virus

[Commonground]

Nevada confirms first human case of H5N1 avian flu in Churchill County

by News 4 & Fox 11 Digital Staff
Mon, February 10th 2025 at 11:22 AM


The Central Nevada Health District has confirmed the state's first human case of avian influenza A (H5N1) in an adult who was exposed to infected dairy cattle at a farm in Churchill County.

The individual, who experienced conjunctivitis but no other symptoms, is currently recovering.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has assessed the risk to the public as low, with no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the virus.

Health officials are contacting and monitoring close contacts of the infected person and other workers exposed at the farm. They are being offered personal protective equipment, testing, and antiviral medication. No additional cases have been confirmed.

continued: https://news3lv.com/news/local/nevad...urchill-county

[Commonground]

Nevada confirms state's first human case of bird flu in a dairy worker

February 10, 20252:42 PM ESTUpdated 2 min ago

CHICAGO, Feb 10 (Reuters) - Nevada has confirmed the state's first human case of bird flu in a farm worker who was exposed to infected dairy cattle, the Central Nevada Health District said on Monday.

(paywall). https://www.reuters.com/business/hea...er-2025-02-10/

[Commonground]

The Central Nevada Health District is Actively Monitoring for Spread of H5N1 in Northern Nevada

Agency partnering with dairy industry and healthcare providers to test any exposed workers; monitor symptoms.

February 10, 2025

The Central Nevada Health District has confirmed the state's first and only human case of avian influenza A (HJN1) virus in an adult who was exposed to infected dairy cattle while working at a dairy farm in Churchill County. The person had conjunctivitis with no other reported symptoms and is recovering. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the risk to the public for H5N1 avian influenza to be low.

There is currently no evidence of person to person spread of this virus. Close contacts of the infected person and other workers exposed at the farm are being contacted and monitored for symptoms and are being offered personal protective equipment (PPE), testing and antiviral medication. No additional cases have been confirmed at this time.

While the current public health risk for the general public remains low, people who work with birds, poultry or cows, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk.

The best way to protect yourself and your family from HSN1 is to avoid sources of exposure. That means avoiding direct contact with wild birds and other animals infected with or suspected to be infected with bird flu viruses.

Protecting yourself and others from HSNI infection:

• Do not touch sick or dead animals or their droppings and do not bring sick wild animals into your home.
  Keep your pets away from sick or dead animals and their feces.
• Do not eat uncooked or undercooked food. Cook poultry, eggs and other animal products to the proper temperature and prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked food.
  Avoid uncooked food products such as unpasteurized raw milk or cheeses.

: If you work on poultry or dairy farms, talk to your provider about getting your seasonal flu

vaccination. It will not prevent infection with avian influenza viruses, but it can reduce the risk of confection with avian and flu viruses.

• Report dead or sick birds or animals to the USDA Wildlife Services at (775) 851-4848.

Poultry and livestock owners should report sick or dead animals to their veterinarians and the Nevada Department of Agriculture.

If you have been exposed to sick or dead birds or other animals or work on a farm where avian influenza has been detected, watch for respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis. If you develop symptoms within 10 days after exposure to sick or dead animals, tell your healthcare provider that you have been in contact with sick animals and are concered about avian influenza. This will help them give you appropriate advice on testing and treatment. Stay home and away from others while you have symptoms.

ao West & Street, suite 101, rallon, Kevoda osa0t

Main Phone Number (775) 967-8181

https://www.centralnevadahd.org/community-alerts-2/

[sharon sanders]

hat tip@Alexander_Tin


CDC spokesperson on D1.1 in human in Nevada

• Source: emailed statement
• Attribution: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spokesperson
• Date: received February 10, 2025

Attributable to a CDC Spokesperson

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a human infection with avian influenza A(H5) (H5 bird flu) in Nevada. This infection happened in a dairy worker with exposure to dairy cows experiencing an outbreak of H5 bird flu as reported by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The person experienced conjunctivitis (eye redness and irritation). This case involving cow-to-human spread of H5 in a person with higher-risk occupational exposure does not change CDC’s risk assessment, which remains low for the public but is higher for people with occupational or recreational exposures.

CDC will continue to provide updates as additional information becomes available. For more information, read the Central Nevada Health District statement.

Background information

The individual in Nevada reported experiencing conjunctivitis, similar to most cases associated with dairy cows to date who had mild respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis. The person did not need to be hospitalized and is recovering.

USDA has identified H5 viruses in dairy cows in Nevada as having the D1.1 genotype, the predominant virus in migratory birds. CDC’s full genome analysis of the virus from the human case in Nevada confirms that is the same virus as that found in the cows (D1.1). Based on available data this same virus likely infected 15 people in Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin during 2024. This virus (D1.1) is different from the virus (B3.13) that caused the dairy cow outbreaks and the majority of human infections in the United States to date. The majority of human infections in the United States have been mild irrespective of the H5 genotype, with the exception of the fatal case in Louisiana last year in a person who had prolonged, unprotected exposure to infected backyard birds.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on February 7 that H5 viruses identified in some dairy cows in Nevada contain a genetic mutation in the polymerase basic 2 (PB2) protein that has previously been associated with more efficient virus replication in people and other mammals (i.e., change of PB2 D701N). CDC’s analysis of sequence data from the human case in Nevada found this same mutation. This change was previously identified in a human case in Chile in 2023. No other changes associated with mammalian adaption were identified in the sequence data from the human case in Nevada. CDC also did not identify any changes in the sequence data that might impact antigenicity or susceptibility to antivirals. However, the virus will undergo further analysis and testing.

There is currently no evidence of person-to-person spread of H5N1 bird flu from this individual in Nevada to others. Combined with the mild nature of the individual’s illness, this case does not change CDC’s low risk assessment for the public. The risk assessment for H5 could change as more information about this case becomes available or as additional cases are detected. Influenza viruses constantly change, requiring continued surveillance and preparedness efforts. CDC is taking measures to be ready in case the current risk assessment for the public changes.

This development underscores the importance of recommended precautions in people with exposure to infected or potentially infected animals, including use of appropriate personal protective equipment. People with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected cows, birds, or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected cows, birds, or other animals, are at greater risk of infection.

https://tinalexander.github.io/notes/2025/02#cdc-spokesperson-on-d11-in-human-in-nevada

[Pathfinder]

CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response Update February 26, 2025
...

Epidemiology Updates


As of February 24, CDC has confirmed three human cases of H5 bird flu in people who became ill in 2025: a dairy worker with exposure to infected dairy cows (Nevada), a poultry worker with exposure to infected commercial poultry (Ohio), and the owner of an infected backyard poultry flock (Wyoming). These are all considered higher-risk exposures. While the dairy worker was not hospitalized, both people with poultry exposures experienced severe illness and were hospitalized. Both hospitalized cases were confirmed positive from lower respiratory specimens, including a bronchoalveolar lavage and sputum. To date, there has been no evidence of onward spread from any of these people to anyone else.

The dairy worker in Nevada had conjunctivitis (eye redness and irritation) and has recovered. Most infections associated with U.S. dairy cows to date have involved mild respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis. This person was exposed to infected dairy cows and tested positive for avian influenza A(H5N1) virus.
...
Laboratory Updates

CDC has successfully sequenced the viruses from the Nevada and Wyoming cases. Genetic data have been posted in GISAID (Wyoming: EPI_ISL_19749443, Nevada: EPI_ISL_19726293) and GenBank. Sequencing data are not yet available for the Ohio case.

CDC's analysis of the genetic sequence of the virus isolated from the patient in Nevada identified the virus as an avian influenza A(H5N1) virus from clade 2.3.4.4.b (genotype D1.1). The nucleotide sequence was nearly identical to that of the viruses that USDA reported from dairy cows in Nevada that the person worked with. The virus had a genetic mutation in its polymerase basic 2 (PB2) protein that has previously been associated with more efficient virus replication in mammalian cells (i.e., change of PB2 D701N). This change was previously identified in a human case in Chile in 2023. No other changes associated with mammalian adaption were identified in the sequence data. CDC also did not identify any changes that might impact effectiveness of influenza antiviral medications or existing clade 2.3.4.4b H5 candidate vaccine viruses.
...

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