Bird flu outbreak in the US: are people at risk?

It was April 1st when Texas reports one case of human infection with virus highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) after confirmation by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is a historic event as this is the first time in the country that this virus has been detected in a cow and the second case in humans. Previously, only in 2022, the disease was reported in a poultry worker in Colorado.

This new case is associated with a veterinary outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in dairy cows in several states. and comes amid ongoing outbreaks of the disease among poultry. In fact, due to this outbreak, the country’s main egg factory recently closed its operations due to an attempt by authorities to reassure them, who note that there is no risk of a shortage.

It is now known that avian influenza first infected a dairy herd in Ohio and has also been detected in additional herds in Kansas and New Mexico. The Department of Agriculture has confirmed cases in herds in six states. since cases were first reported in Texas and Kansas on March 25. This spread to an increasing number of species and its increasing geographic distribution have increased the risk of infection in humans, according to the director of the World Organization for Animal Health.

People who have long-term contact with infected birds or animals are at greater risk of infection.

But it must be said that in the case of this man, who was infected with H5N1 avian influenza in Texas and had contact with presumably infected cows, it was reported that the only symptom was red eyes or conjunctivitis. and that he is recovering. The infected person is being quarantined at home away from others and being treated with antiviral flu medications, authorities said.

His diagnosis coincides with the answer given to A TU SALUD by at least two experts about low probability that the disease is dangerous to humans. These infections are rare, but they occur most often after unprotected contact with infected birds, when enough of the virus gets into the person’s eyes, nose or mouth or is inhaled, or when a person touches something that has the virus on it and then you touch yours. mouth, eyes or nose.

The Texas case would be the first known case of a human contracting avian influenza from a cow. It is currently unclear how he became infected.

Avian influenza illness in humans ranges from mild (eg, eye infections, upper respiratory symptoms) to severe (eg, pneumonia, multiple organ failure, death).

Do not cook or eat raw or undercooked food from suspect animals.

However, health authorities do not believe these developments will change the health risk of H5N1 avian influenza to the general population, which is still considered low. This is mainly because there have been no changes that would make these viruses resistant to antiviral drugs against influenza, approved and recommended by the FDA (which regulates drugs in the country).

Experts also warn that This virus is closely related to two other existing vaccine candidates. which are already available to manufacturers and, if necessary, can be used to create other compatible devices. That is, we are doing what science allows us to be ready for.

But as other experts warn, viruses can undergo changes as they reproduce. after infection, and scientists continue to look for changes every time they study the virus. In this case, CDC researchers identified a previously characterized change in the amino acid associated with infections in humans and other mammals. This finding is neither unusual nor surprising and, importantly, is not associated with an increased ability of this virus to spread between people.