Health Authorities Report Another H5N1 Case Amid Dairy Cow Infection Spread
US health officials have confirmed a second human case of bird flu linked to a dairy cow outbreak, coming just under two months after the first case was reported. Both cases involve dairy farm workers in Texas and Michigan who contracted the H5N1 virus. The affected individuals experienced mild symptoms and have since recovered, authorities stated.
Low risk to the public, says CDC
Despite the new case, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that the risk to the general public remains “low.” However, they caution that more cases may surface due to the widespread presence of the virus in dairy cows.
“Given the high levels of the virus in raw milk from infected cows and the extent of the spread in dairy cows, additional human cases could emerge,” the CDC warned.
The CDC emphasized that isolated human infections without sustained spread do not change their assessment of the low risk for the US population.
Bird flu: Michigan case details
The latest case in Michigan involved a dairy farm worker exposed to the H5N1 virus. The Michigan Health and Human Services Department reported that the worker showed mild symptoms and has since recovered. Samples from the worker’s nose and eye were tested, with only the eye sample returning positive for H5N1. Similar to the Texas case, the symptoms were localized to the eye.
Outbreak impact on livestock
As of Wednesday, 52 herds across nine states have reported bird flu infections. The CDC noted that individuals with close, prolonged, unprotected contact with infected birds or animals, including livestock, are at higher risk of infection.
While the current H5N1 strain has devastated poultry populations, cows have exhibited milder illness. The infection in cows and goats, first observed in March, surprised experts who previously believed these animals were not susceptible to this flu type.
Public reassurance on milk safety
Health authorities assured the public that milk sold in US stores remains safe due to effective pasteurization, despite the detection of virus fragments in pasteurized milk. There is no evidence of human-to-human transmission at present, but officials are vigilant about the virus potentially mutating to enable such spread.
Global context
The H5N1 virus first emerged in 1996, with significant outbreaks in birds since 2020 and increasing infections among mammals. Recently, Australia reported its first human bird flu case in a child, suspected to have contracted the virus in India.
“A child in Victoria has been confirmed with the first case of bird flu in Australia, acquired during a recent visit to India,” reported 9news.com.au, citing state health officials.
The Victorian Department of Health posted on X, confirming no evidence of transmission within Victoria and asserting the low likelihood of additional human cases, as avian influenza does not easily spread among people.
Expert advice and precautions
Health experts advise that humans are generally not at risk of contracting H5N1 unless they have direct contact with infected birds or animals, or their fluids. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent further spread and ensure public safety.