2 June 2024 New case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 in Michigan, USA.
June 2, 2024
Third person in USA. tested positive for bird flu The outbreak in dairy cattle marks the second case reported in Michigan as part of the ongoing virus outbreak.
This time, in addition to the eye symptoms seen in other recent human infections with this virus, the individual, a farm worker, reported a cough and other respiratory symptoms which are more typical of human influenza infections
The person likely developed pulmonary symptoms due to the route of infection, possibly as a result of inhaling infectious aerosols in the milking parlor instead of rubbing their eyes with contaminated hands.
In the first case in Michigan, eye symptoms occurred after contaminated milk came into direct contact with the eyes. In this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct contact with an infected cow.
Research is being done into how infections are transmitted between cows and from cows to the people who work with them.
This is the third human infection caused by this highly pathogenic form of avian influenza currently affecting dairy cattle in the United States. None of the three people had contact with each other, but they all worked with livestock, suggesting that these were cases of cow-to-human transmission. Two other cases were associated with eye infections or conjunctivitis.
US Local Risks
More information about avian influenza in the US
- H5N1
- 2024. Michigan cow farm worker May 26 case; April 2. Human infection on a cow farm.
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