The state of Michigan has announced the identification of a second human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5) virus infection.
According to US health officials on Thursday, this represents the third human case connected to a multistate A (H5N1) outbreak that is still occurring in US dairy cows.
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As per the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the latest instance involves a dairy farm worker who may have contracted the virus from cow-to-person transmission after being exposed to infected cows.
According to the CDC, which was cited by Xinhua, this is the first known case of H5 in humans in the United States to present with more usual symptoms of acute respiratory disease linked to influenza virus infection, including A (H5N1) viruses.
There has been no indication of unusual influenza activity in people, including no increase in ER visits for influenza and no increase in laboratory detection of human influenza cases. The CDC continues to closely monitor data from influenza surveillance systems that are currently available, especially in states that are affected.
The CDC stated that there is still little risk to the general populace in the US who are not in close contact with affected animals. But the CDC says that this discovery emphasizes how important it is for anyone who have been around infected or potentially infected animals to take the required safeguards.
The CDC advised people to take measures since they are more likely to become infected if they are exposed to infected birds or other animals up close or for an extended period of time, if they are in surroundings contaminated by these animals or birds.