New York — A Michigan dairy employee has been identified with hen flu — the second human case related to an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.
The affected person had gentle eye signs and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan well being officers stated in asserting the case Wednesday. The employee had been in touch with cows presumed to be contaminated, and the chance to the general public stays low, officers stated.
A nasal swab from the particular person examined unfavourable for the virus, however an eye fixed swab examined constructive, “indicating an eye fixed an infection,” the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention stated in an announcement.
The primary case occurred in late March, when a farmworker in Texas was diagnosed in what officers known as the primary identified occasion globally of an individual catching this model of hen flu from a mammal. That affected person additionally reported solely eye irritation and recovered.
Since 2020, a hen flu virus has been spreading amongst more animal species — together with canine, cats, skunks, bears and even seals and porpoises — in scores of nations. The detection in U.S. livestock earlier this yr was an unexpected twist that sparked questions on meals security and whether or not it could begin spreading amongst people.
That hasn’t occurred, though there’s been a gentle enhance of reported infections in cows. As of Wednesday, the virus had been confirmed in 51 dairy herds in 9 states, in line with the U.S. Agriculture Division.
Fifteen of the herds have been in Michigan. Well being officers there have declined to say how many individuals uncovered to contaminated cattle have been examined or monitored.
The virus has been present in excessive ranges within the raw milk of contaminated cows, however authorities officers say pasteurized merchandise offered in grocery shops are secure as a result of warmth therapy has been confirmed to kill the virus.
The brand new case marks the third time an individual in the US has been identified with what’s referred to as Kind A H5N1 virus. In 2022, a jail inmate in a piece program picked it up whereas killing contaminated birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His solely symptom was fatigue, and he recovered. That predated the virus’s look in cows.
