Commonground
Senior Moderator
February 5, 2025
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – This week the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) issued a health alert advisory to clinicians and laboratories citing sporadic human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(HSN1) viruses amid high levels of seasonal influenza activity.
OSDH says, out of an abundance of caution, the recommendation in place asks clinicians to remain on the look out for hospitalized patients with possible novel influenza A infections. The early detection approach can help prevent delays in identifying severe human infections with HPAI A (H5N1) viruses, supporting timely infection control and case/contact investigation.
Read full Oklahoma Health Alert below:
This is an official Oklahoma Health Alert
Network Health Notification
OKLAHOMA
Date: February 3, 2025
OKHAN_419-2025-02-03-ADV-N
Reference: n/a
Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients
Summary
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to clinicians and laboratories due to sporadic human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses amid high levels of seasonal influenza activity. In an abundance of caution, OSDH is recommending that clinicians remain alert for hospitalized patients with possible novel influenza A infections. Hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness, reporting exposure to wild or domestic animals, should be tested for influenza A with subtyping analysis. All patients
with influenza A specimens identified as non-seasonal subtypes (i.e., subtype result other than H3, H1, H1 2009) should be treated as possible novel flu infections, and those specimens referred for H5 subtype testing, at the OSDH Public Health Laboratory (PHL) or a capable commercial laboratory. This approach can help prevent delays in identifying severe human infections with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses, supporting timely
infection control and case/contact investigation.
Background
A panzootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses is currently affecting wild birds. In the United States, there have been outbreaks with these viruses among poultry and dairy cows, as well as infections among other animals. During 2024, 66 human cases of HPAI A(H5N1) virus infection were identified in the United States. Most infections in humans have been clinically mild but one fatality has been reported. Many individuals infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses have reported unprotected occupational exposures, such as handling infected or sick dairy cows or poultry without using recommended personal protective equipment. However, one case involved exposure to backyard poultry or wild birds. The source of the exposure in two confirmed cases in the United States could not be determined (i.e., no epidemiological risk factors identified). Based on the information available at this time, the CDC still holds that the general public is at low risk for acquiring HPAI A(H5N1) infection.
OSDH will utilize a two-pronged approach for surveillance of novel influenza, such as HPAI A(H5N1). 1) OSDH will increase Oklahoma's sentinel surveillance network to improve surveillance among outpatients with influenza-like illness. If you would like to become a sentinel provider or know
more about the sentinel surveillance program, please email Respiratory@health.ok.gov.
Message #: OK-HAN_419 / Reference: n/a
Oklahoma State Department of Health / Infectious Disease Systems and Collaboration/
123 S Robert S Kerr Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405-426-8710 (ph) https://oklahoma.gov/health/health-education/acute-disease-service.html
https://kfor.com/news/local/osdh-issues-health-alert-for-viruses-during-seasonal-flu-activity/
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – This week the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) issued a health alert advisory to clinicians and laboratories citing sporadic human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(HSN1) viruses amid high levels of seasonal influenza activity.
OSDH says, out of an abundance of caution, the recommendation in place asks clinicians to remain on the look out for hospitalized patients with possible novel influenza A infections. The early detection approach can help prevent delays in identifying severe human infections with HPAI A (H5N1) viruses, supporting timely infection control and case/contact investigation.
Read full Oklahoma Health Alert below:
This is an official Oklahoma Health Alert
Network Health Notification
OKLAHOMA
Date: February 3, 2025
OKHAN_419-2025-02-03-ADV-N
Reference: n/a
Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients
Summary
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to clinicians and laboratories due to sporadic human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses amid high levels of seasonal influenza activity. In an abundance of caution, OSDH is recommending that clinicians remain alert for hospitalized patients with possible novel influenza A infections. Hospitalized patients with influenza-like illness, reporting exposure to wild or domestic animals, should be tested for influenza A with subtyping analysis. All patients
with influenza A specimens identified as non-seasonal subtypes (i.e., subtype result other than H3, H1, H1 2009) should be treated as possible novel flu infections, and those specimens referred for H5 subtype testing, at the OSDH Public Health Laboratory (PHL) or a capable commercial laboratory. This approach can help prevent delays in identifying severe human infections with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses, supporting timely
infection control and case/contact investigation.
Background
A panzootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses is currently affecting wild birds. In the United States, there have been outbreaks with these viruses among poultry and dairy cows, as well as infections among other animals. During 2024, 66 human cases of HPAI A(H5N1) virus infection were identified in the United States. Most infections in humans have been clinically mild but one fatality has been reported. Many individuals infected with HPAI A(H5N1) viruses have reported unprotected occupational exposures, such as handling infected or sick dairy cows or poultry without using recommended personal protective equipment. However, one case involved exposure to backyard poultry or wild birds. The source of the exposure in two confirmed cases in the United States could not be determined (i.e., no epidemiological risk factors identified). Based on the information available at this time, the CDC still holds that the general public is at low risk for acquiring HPAI A(H5N1) infection.
OSDH will utilize a two-pronged approach for surveillance of novel influenza, such as HPAI A(H5N1). 1) OSDH will increase Oklahoma's sentinel surveillance network to improve surveillance among outpatients with influenza-like illness. If you would like to become a sentinel provider or know
more about the sentinel surveillance program, please email Respiratory@health.ok.gov.
Message #: OK-HAN_419 / Reference: n/a
Oklahoma State Department of Health / Infectious Disease Systems and Collaboration/
123 S Robert S Kerr Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73102
405-426-8710 (ph) https://oklahoma.gov/health/health-education/acute-disease-service.html
https://kfor.com/news/local/osdh-issues-health-alert-for-viruses-during-seasonal-flu-activity/