A farm worker in Michigan has been diagnosed with H5 influenza, commonly known as avian or bird flu, as reported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The worker, who had regular contact with infected livestock, marks the second case amid an ongoing outbreak of the virus affecting birds and cattle nationwide. This incident also marks the third recorded instance of bird flu in a human in the US. However, health authorities underscored on Wednesday that the risk to the general public remains low.
The previous human case within this outbreak, involving a dairy farm worker in Texas, exhibited eye symptoms such as redness, swelling, and watering. Prompt administration of antiviral medications facilitated a full recovery without lasting issues.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services stated in a news release on Wednesday, “It is not unexpected that comprehensive testing identified a human infection.” They emphasized that the available information suggests this infection is sporadic, with no observed person-to-person transmission.
The infected farm worker was part of a monitoring program comprising around 170 individuals. Participants received daily text messages from the state health department to report any potential symptoms. Upon indication of symptoms, public health workers conducted sampling, provided antiviral medications to the affected individual and their close contacts, and advised isolation.
Dr. Nirav Shah, principal deputy director of the CDC, highlighted that the case was anticipated and reiterated the agency’s ongoing efforts to assist farms in readiness for virus spread. He emphasized the importance of vigilance without alarm, affirming that there’s no evidence of further cases or human-to-human transmission.
Further genomic sequencing of the virus will provide insights into its characteristics and relation to strains found in infected livestock. Notably, the detection of the virus in an eye swab rather than a nasal specimen reduces concerns regarding respiratory transmission.
While traces of the virus were detected in dairy products, the FDA maintains confidence in the safety of the commercial milk supply due to pasteurization’s effectiveness. However, caution against consuming raw milk or unpasteurized products persists.
Regarding ground beef, testing with a surrogate virus revealed limited viability in patties cooked to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or rare. Although present in reduced quantities, it remains uncertain whether this level poses a health risk.