Bird flu has been detected in a Michigan farmworker, marking the third human case tied to a dairy outbreak, the CDC and state health department announced Thursday.
This is the third human case associated with the ongoing highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) outbreak and the second infection identified in the state of Michigan, according to the CDC. The other case was identified in Texas.
“None of the three cases are associated with the others,” the CDC announced.
“With this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct exposure to an infected cow,” Michigan health officials said in a release. In the previous Michigan case, a farmworker experienced eye symptoms after a direct splash of infected milk to the eye, officials also said.
Is it safe to eat runny eggs amid the bird flu outbreak? Here’s what the experts say.Bird flu outbreak is an ‘evolving situation.’ Here’s what to know about symptoms, spread.Human case of bird flu detected in Texas after outbreak of virus among cattleCal-Maine Foods, largest producer of eggs in US, finds bird flu in chickens at Texas plant
“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,” Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive, said in a statement. “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.”
The CDC continues to call the health risk to the U.S. general public “low,” as all three sporadic cases resulted from direct contact with infected cows. The CDC will continue to monitor available data from influenza surveillance systems, including a dashboard accessible to the public.
Author:: Bagombeka Job
Credit:: USA TODAY
