H5N1 virus
First serious case of bird flu in a patient in the USA
For the first time, the first serious case of bird flu has been diagnosed in a patient in the United States. So far, 61 people have been infected with the virus there.
In the southern US state of Louisiana, a person has been hospitalized with a severe case of bird flu. As the CDC announced on Wednesday, this is the first serious case of the viral disease in the USA. The patient had contact with sick and dead birds.
A genetic analysis showed that he was infected with the H5N1 virus, it said. The same virus variant led to infections in people in northwestern Washington state and neighboring Canada. However, it should be distinguished from those that have been discovered in several breeding farms of dairy cows and birds.
Already 61 infections with bird flu in the USA
According to the authority, 61 human infections with the bird flu virus have been detected in the USA since April. However, all other patients only showed mild symptoms.
The CDC also pointed out that no human-to-human transmission has been detected to date. The case that has now occurred in Louisiana does not change the assessment of the current risk to public health from the bird flu virus, which is classified as low.
The H5N1 bird flu virus first emerged in 1996. The number of sources of infection in birds has increased exponentially since 2020 – at the same time, the number of infected mammal species, including dairy cows, has also increased. Almost all infected birds die from the disease.
AFP
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Source: Stern
I’m Caroline, a journalist and author for 24 Hours Worlds. I specialize in health-related news and stories, bringing real-world impact to readers across the globe. With my experience in journalism and writing in both print and online formats, I strive to provide reliable information that resonates with audiences from all walks of life.
