Missouri Patient Tests Positive For Bird Flu Despite No Known Exposure To Animals

A hospitalized affected person in Missouri was contaminated with fowl flu regardless of having had no recognized contact with dairy cows or different animals related to an ongoing outbreak, well being officers mentioned Friday.

That is the 14th individual within the U.S. sickened with fowl flu since March, when the virus was detected in cows, after infecting wild birds and mammals worldwide. One different individual was contaminated in 2022.

The danger to most of the people stays low, U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention officers mentioned in a press release. No uncommon flu exercise has been detected within the U.S., together with in Missouri, officers mentioned.

The newest case was confirmed after the individual, an grownup, was hospitalized on Aug. 22 with different medical situations, officers with the Missouri Division of Well being and Senior Providers mentioned in a press release.

The individual examined optimistic for influenza A, and CDC officers later confirmed it to be fowl flu. The individual obtained antiviral remedy and has since recovered and gone dwelling, well being officers mentioned. It’s not clear whether or not the hospitalization was brought on by the fowl flu an infection or the individual’s present well being situations, mentioned Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for the Missouri well being division.

Well being officers didn’t launch the individual’s title, age or hometown. No shut contacts of the individual have been contaminated, CDC officers mentioned.

The case raises questions on how the individual was uncovered to the virus. All of the earlier U.S. infections have been amongst individuals who labored round cows and poultry.

Fowl flu has been detected in practically 200 dairy herds in 14 states, however not in Missouri, based on the Agriculture Division. Fowl flu has additionally been present in business and yard flocks and in wild birds. The individual didn’t report ingesting uncooked milk, which might comprise stay virus, Cox mentioned.

The investigation is constant, officers mentioned.

It’s the primary case detected by routine influenza surveillance somewhat than by focused efforts to establish individuals contaminated with fowl flu by publicity to contaminated cows and poultry, officers mentioned.

The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.