Michigan dairy employee identified with chook flu in 2nd U.S. case : NPR

This 2005 electron microscope picture reveals an avian influenza A H5N1 virion. On Wednesday, Michigan well being officers mentioned a farmworker has been identified with chook flu, the second human case related to an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.

Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC/AP

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Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC/AP

 

This 2005 electron microscope picture reveals an avian influenza A H5N1 virion. On Wednesday, Michigan well being officers mentioned a farmworker has been identified with chook flu, the second human case related to an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.

 

Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC/AP

 

NEW YORK — A Michigan dairy employee has been identified with chook flu — the second human case related to an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.

The employee had been involved with cows presumed to be contaminated, skilled gentle eye signs and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan well being officers mentioned in asserting the case Wednesday. A nasal swab from the individual examined adverse for the virus, however an eye fixed swab examined optimistic, “indicating an eye fixed an infection,” the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned in an announcement.

The danger to the general public stays low, however farmworkers uncovered to contaminated animals are at larger danger, well being officers mentioned. They mentioned these staff ought to be supplied protecting tools, particularly for his or her eyes.

The primary case occurred in late March, when a farmworker in Texas was identified in what officers known as the primary recognized occasion globally of an individual catching this model of chook flu from a mammal. That affected person additionally reported solely eye irritation and recovered.

Since 2020, a chook flu virus has been spreading amongst extra animal species — together with canine, cats, skunks, bears and even seals and porpoises — in scores of nations. The detection in U.S. livestock earlier this yr was an unexpected twist that sparked questions on meals security and whether or not it could begin spreading amongst people.

That hasn’t occurred, though there’s been a gentle enhance of reported infections in cows. As of Wednesday, the virus had been confirmed in 51 dairy herds in 9 states, in line with the U.S. Agriculture Division. Fifteen of the herds have been in Michigan.

Well being officers in Michigan have declined to say how many individuals uncovered to contaminated cattle have been examined or monitored. U.S. officers mentioned that they had examined 40 folks for the reason that first cow instances have been found in late March.

The CDC’s Dr. Nirav Shah praised Michigan officers for actively monitoring farmworkers. He mentioned well being officers there have been sending day by day textual content messages to staff uncovered to contaminated cows asking about doable signs, and that the trouble helped officers catch this an infection. He mentioned no different staff had reported signs.

USDA is increasing monetary incentives to dairy farmers whose herds haven’t but been contaminated with the virus, Eric Deeble. a federal agriculture official, mentioned Wednesday.

The virus has been present in excessive ranges within the uncooked milk of contaminated cows, however authorities officers say pasteurized merchandise offered in grocery shops are protected as a result of warmth remedy has been confirmed to kill the virus.

The brand new case marks the third time an individual in the US has been identified with what’s often known as Kind A H5N1 virus. In 2022, a jail inmate in a piece program picked it up whereas killing contaminated birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His solely symptom was fatigue, and he recovered. That predated the virus’s look in cows.