America Confirms Human Case of Bird Flu in Missouri
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a human case of avian influenza A, commonly known as bird flu, in Missouri. The case, which was identified through the state’s seasonal flu surveillance system, was confirmed on Thursday.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is currently investigating the potential source of exposure. The patient, who was hospitalized due to underlying medical conditions, was treated with antiviral medications and has since been discharged and is recovering. There has been no identified ongoing transmission among close contacts, and no immediate known animal exposure has been found.
This case marks the 14th human case of H5 bird flu reported in the United States for 2024 and is notable as the first instance of H5 without a known occupational exposure to infected animals. While H5 bird flu is prevalent in wild birds globally and has been linked to outbreaks in poultry and, more recently, in U.S. dairy cows, there have been no reports of outbreaks in cattle within Missouri.
The national flu surveillance system has detected other novel flu cases, but this is the first instance of H5 identified through this system, the CDC noted.
