U.S. officials announced the country’s third human case of bird flu linked to the ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle.
The latest case involves a farm worker in Michigan, marking the state’s second reported instance of the disease following an initial case in Texas earlier this year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed in a statement that all three cases were transmitted from cows to humans, rather than through human-to-human contact, which would pose a greater public health concern.
This latest case is notable for being the first to exhibit the more typical symptoms of acute respiratory illness commonly associated with influenza virus infections, unlike the previous cases which presented milder symptoms such as conjunctivitis.
The Michigan farm worker experienced symptoms including a cough without fever, eye discomfort, and watery eye discharge. They were treated with the antiviral medication oseltamivir and were isolated at home, where their symptoms subsequently resolved.
The Michigan Department of Health disclosed that the worker had not been wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), which is recommended for those who have close contact with dairy herds to prevent the spread of the virus.
This incident underscores the importance of following health guidelines and using PPE to protect individuals working with livestock.
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Health authorities continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent further transmission and to ensure the safety of those in the agricultural sector.
The CDC reassures the public that, while these cases are concerning, the transmission route from animals to humans remains limited, reducing the immediate risk of a broader outbreak.
Over the past few years, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus HPAI H5N1 has spread to over 50 animal species, including dairy cattle in the U.S. since March.
Unlike Europe, U.S. farmers can feed cattle ground-up chicken waste, which some scientists believe may contribute to bird flu transmission. However, the feed industry disputes this, and U.S. authorities attribute cow infections to wild birds.
“The risk to the general public who do not have exposure to infected animals remains low,” stated the CDC, noting that the discovery of a new case in Michigan was expected due to proactive testing among farmworkers.
The CDC advises using PPE, avoiding contact with sick or dead animals, animal excrement, and unpasteurized milk. Recent tests showed mice exposed to contaminated raw milk were affected by bird flu, but pasteurization destroys the virus.