‘Severe’ Avian Flu in US: Latest Updates

TCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Wednesday the United States’ first “severe” human case of H5N1 avian influenza — or bird flu, a zoonotic infection that has raised fears of becoming the next global pandemic.

The serious case involves a southwest Louisiana resident who was reported as presumably positive for infection on Friday. The infected patient “is experiencing severe respiratory illness related to H5N1 infection and is currently hospitalized in critical condition,” according to Emma Herrock, a spokeswoman for the Louisiana Department of Health, who said the patient is over the age of 65 and has underlying medical conditions, but that further updates on their condition will not be provided at this time due to patient confidentiality.

Read more: What are the symptoms of bird flu?

It is the 61st case of human H5N1 bird flu infection in the country since April this year. But the CDC said the overall risk of the pathogen to the public remains low, and no related deaths have been reported in the United States so far.

Here’s what you need to know.

What caused the severe infection?

The CDC said in its Dec. 18 announcement that while an investigation is ongoing, the patient was found to have had contact with sick and dead birds in backyard flocks, making it the first known case of infection in the United States that has this origin.

Of 60 other cases58 were linked to commercial agriculture – 37 from dairy herds and 21 from poultry farms and slaughter. The sources of exposure for the other two US human cases remain unknown.

What is the current status of H5N1 infections in humans?

Of the human infections recorded in the United States this year, 34, or more than half, were in California, with all but one involving exposure to cattle. In response, Governor Gavin Newsom on 18 Dec declared state of emergency.

The CDC said such a “severe” infection found in Louisiana was expected given cases in other countries. In Vietnam, a patient who died in March after a diagnosis of “severe pneumonia, severe sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome” was found to have an H5N1 infection, according to the World Health Organization. The United States appears to be leading the way in H5N1 infections worldwide this year, according to the CDC data on bird flu cases reported to WHO.

Read more: The bird flu virus is one mutation away from becoming more dangerous

How can infection be prevented?

The CDC issued a number of protective measures, including largely avoid direct contact with wild birds and other suspected infected animals and their bodily secretions. People who work with cattle and poultry on affected farms have one greater risk of infectionand is therefore advised to monitor any symptoms of infection.

Properly cooked poultry and poultry products are sureand the CDC says that while unpasteurized (raw) milk from infected cows may pose risks to humans, it is not yet known whether the bird flu virus can be transmitted through its consumption.