NEW YORK — Health officials on Thursday said they don’t know how a Missouri person caught bird flu but believe it may be a rare instance of a “one-off” standalone illness.
Investigators trying to determine how the person caught the virus have not been able to confirm the exact strain of flu.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials said the risk to the general public remains low. The Missouri case raised questions about the possibility of human-to-human bird flu transmission, but officials said there is no evidence of other people being infected.
“Right now, evidence points to this being a one-off case,” said Dr. Nirav Shah, CDC principal deputy director.
Unusual flu strains that come from animals are occasionally found in people. This year alone, health officials identified seven human cases of swine flu in the U.S., officials said. But this is the first time the surveillance system detected an avian flu like this.
The H5N1 bird flu has been spreading widely among wild birds, poultry, cows and a growing number of other animals. Its growing presence in the environment increases the chances that people will be exposed, and potentially catch it, Shah said.
Citing patient confidentiality, health officials have disclosed few details about the Missouri case, which was first announced late last week.
The person had chest pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and weakness and was hospitalized on Aug. 22 “for reasons related to their underlying medical conditions,” Shah said.
The patient was tested for flu as part of the treatment and was positive for influenza A, a broad virus category. Subsequent testing — completed last week — found the bug to belong to category of viruses usually seen in birds and not people. However, the patient had a very low concentration of viral genetic material, leaving officials without the ability to full analyze it and confirm exactly which virus it is, Shah said.
“Ultimately, a full sequence may not be technically feasible,” Shah said.
The patient had no known contact with dairy cows or other animals associated with the ongoing bird flu outbreak. The person later told Missouri health officials that they didn’t drink unpasteurized milk or dairy products, Shah said in a Thursday call with reporters.
The patient received antiviral medication and has since recovered and gone home, health officials said.
As part of their investigation, officials hope to draw blood from people who were around the patient to see if they show evidence of infection, Shah said.
The Missouri patient was the 14th person in the U.S. sickened with bird flu since March, when the virus was detected in cows. One other person was infected in 2022. All of those cases were relatively mild illnesses, and each patient had been in direct contact with infected animals.
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Missouri officials have recently confirmed a case of bird flu in the state, but have emphasized that it is a rare occurrence and poses minimal risk to the public. The infected bird was found in a backyard flock in Benton County, and the strain of avian influenza was identified as H5N2.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Senior Services have been working closely to monitor the situation and take necessary precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. The infected bird has been euthanized, and the area has been quarantined to prevent any further spread of the virus.
According to Dr. Linda Hickam, state veterinarian for the Missouri Department of Agriculture, the risk of transmission of bird flu from birds to humans is very low. She stated, “The strain of avian influenza found in this case is not known to cause illness in humans, and there is no immediate public health concern.”
The Department of Agriculture has also been conducting surveillance testing on other birds in the area to ensure that the virus has not spread. They are also working with poultry producers in the state to educate them on biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into commercial flocks.
While the discovery of bird flu in Missouri is concerning, officials are confident that they have taken swift action to contain the virus and protect public health. They are urging residents to report any sick or dead birds to their local veterinarian or the Department of Agriculture.
Overall, the risk of bird flu spreading to humans in Missouri is minimal, and officials are working diligently to ensure that the virus does not pose a threat to public health. By taking proactive measures and monitoring the situation closely, they are confident that they can prevent any further spread of the virus.
