A hospitalized affected person in Missouri was contaminated with chook flu regardless of having had no identified contact with dairy cows or different animals related to an ongoing outbreak, well being officers mentioned Friday.
That is the 14th particular person within the U.S. sickened with chook flu since March, when the virus was detected in cows, after infecting wild birds and mammals worldwide. One different particular person was contaminated in 2022.
The danger to most people stays low, U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention officers mentioned in an announcement. No uncommon flu exercise has been detected within the U.S., together with in Missouri, officers mentioned.
The most recent case was confirmed after the particular person, an grownup, was hospitalized on Aug. 22 with different medical situations, officers with the Missouri Division of Well being and Senior Companies mentioned in an announcement.
The particular person examined constructive for influenza A, and CDC officers later confirmed it to be chook flu. The particular person acquired antiviral remedy and has since recovered and gone residence, well being officers mentioned. It is not clear whether or not the hospitalization was attributable to the chook flu an infection or the particular person’s current well being situations, mentioned Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for the Missouri well being division.
Well being officers did not launch the particular person’s identify, age or hometown. No shut contacts of the particular person have been contaminated, CDC officers mentioned.
The case raises questions on how the particular person was uncovered to the virus. All of the earlier U.S. infections had been amongst individuals who labored round cows and poultry.
Hen flu has been detected in almost 200 dairy herds in 14 states, however not in Missouri, based on the Agriculture Division. Hen flu has additionally been present in industrial and yard flocks and in wild birds. The particular person didn’t report ingesting uncooked milk, which may comprise dwell virus, Cox mentioned.
The investigation is continuous, officers mentioned.
It’s the primary case detected by means of routine influenza surveillance slightly than by means of focused efforts to determine individuals contaminated with chook flu by means of publicity to contaminated cows and poultry, officers mentioned.
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The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Instructional Media Group. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.
