A verified case of bird flu in humans who had no known contact with animals has been reported by US health authorities. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that this Missourian has fully recovered after receiving hospital treatment. This particular incident represents the 14th cases of bird flu in humans reported in the US for 2024; however, it is the first case to be found without a record of occupational contact with infected animals.
Based on available information, the Centre for Disease Control states that there is still a minimal overall risk to the general public. Human infections of bird flu are extremely uncommon; the virus mostly affects birds and other animal species. Since the Missouri case is the first documented case of H5 without a known occupational connection to sick animals, it marks a significant departure from the historical trend of infections in the United States being associated with direct contact with infected birds or livestock.
During the flu season, regular surveillance methods were used to identify the Missouri case. The patient was receiving antiviral medicine for flu and had pre-existing medical issues. Although there haven’t been any documented cases of bird flu among cattle in Missouri, this year’s outbreaks have been found in the region’s poultry and wild birds. Bird flu first surfaced in China in the 1990s and has since spread throughout the world, threatening a wide range of wildlife species. Despite this, health officials say there is still little risk to humans at this time.
