The discovery of a second case of bird flu in a human, specifically in a dairy farm worker in Michigan, raises concerns about the potential spread of the disease. Even though the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the risk assessment for the general public remains low, there is a possibility of more cases emerging. The high levels of the virus in raw milk from infected cows, along with the widespread distribution of the virus in dairy cows, indicate that additional human cases could be identified in the future. However, sporadic human infections with no ongoing spread are not expected to change the overall risk assessment for the US general public, which is considered to be low by the CDC.
The latest case of bird flu in Michigan was detected in a dairy farm worker who had mild symptoms and has since recovered. Two specimens were collected from the worker, with only the eye specimen testing positive for the virus. This case is similar to the one in Texas, where the patient also reported eye symptoms. As of now, a total of 52 US herds have been infected with bird flu across nine states. The US Department of Agriculture has identified spread between cows within the same herd and between different dairies associated with cattle movements. However, when treated, sick cows can recover with little to no associated mortality, according to the department.
The USDA has implemented financial aid to assist affected farms, such as providing protective equipment for their employees. People with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals, including livestock, are at greater risk of infection. While the current H5N1 strain has caused the deaths of millions of poultry, affected cows have not shown severe symptoms. The discovery of virus fragments in pasteurized milk is a concern, but health authorities assure that milk sold in US stores is safe due to the effectiveness of pasteurization in killing the virus.
Despite the lack of evidence of human-to-human transmission at present, health officials are cautious about the potential for the virus to mutate into a form that could be transmitted between humans. Avian influenza A(H5N1) first emerged in 1996, and since 2020, the number of outbreaks in birds has increased significantly, along with a rise in infected mammals. The unexpected susceptibility of cows and goats to this type of influenza in March has raised concerns among experts about the spread of the virus to different animal species.
Overall, while the risk assessment for the general public remains low, the emergence of a second case of bird flu in a dairy farm worker highlights the need for continued surveillance and preventive measures to control the spread of the virus and protect both animals and humans from potential outbreaks.
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