Human H5N1 Case Confirmed in Oregon Amid Rising H5N1 Human, Cow and Poultry Infections in California
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Nov 16, 2024 4 hours, 48 minutes ago
Medical News: Human Case of H5N1 Confirmed in Oregon
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially confirmed a human case of H5N1 bird flu in Oregon. The infected individual, a male farm worker, contracted the virus after exposure to an outbreak at a commercial poultry farm in Clackamas County. This farm had been grappling with a devastating infection that affected over 150,000 chickens.
https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORHA/bulletins/3c21d2e
https://odanews.wpengine.com/highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-continues-to-spread-in-oregon-experts-say-the-virus-does-not-affect-food-products/
Human H5N1 Case Confirmed in Oregon Amid Rising H5N1 Human,
Cow and Poultry Infections in California
According to health authorities, the man exhibited only mild symptoms and has since recovered. The CDC insists there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission from this case and emphasizes that the overall public risk remains low. However, this
Medical News report underscores concerns over the growing spread of H5N1 across the United States.
Delayed Disclosure Raises Questions
Interestingly, the CDC has just disclosed this infection, which reportedly occurred over two weeks ago. Such delays in reporting highlight potential gaps in the transparency of public health communication.
This case in Oregon is part of a broader wave of H5N1 infections in the United States, affecting both humans and animals. To date, 52 human infections have been confirmed nationwide this year, with all cases linked to direct contact with infected animals, such as poultry and livestock.
California Sees Surge in H5N1 Cases
California has reported five new human cases, bringing its total to 26 since early October. These recent cases were identified in farm workers in Fresno and Madera counties. All patients had mild symptoms and are now recovering under isolation and antiviral treatments.
https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Bird-Flu.aspx
https://files.constantcontact.com/96c3d142101/5f415e45-cdca-4ed8-9f33-ee9251b841f5.pdf
https://www.fresnocountyca.gov/files/sharedassets/county/v/2/public-health/dph-news-releases/2024/11-15-2024-news-release-first-confirmed-human-case-of-bird-flu-h5n1-i
n-fresno-county.pdf
Health officials revealed that these cases stemmed from contact with infected dairy cattle, not poultry. This divergence indicates that the virus may be adapting or spreading across different animal populations. Officials clarified that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission in these instances either.
Nationwide Animal Outbreaks Escalate
The spread of H5N1 among animals continues to grow at an alarming rate. In California alone, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) recently confirmed three additional outbreaks among dairy cattle, raising the state's total to 291 herds. Nationwide, animal infections now exceed 500 herds, spanning 15 states.
Commercial poultry farms are also bearing the brunt of this outbreak. California recently recorded three significant outbreaks at facilities in Fresno and Merced counties, affecting broiler chickens and turkeys. Since 2022, the bird flu has devastated U.S. poultry farms, resulting in the culling of over 100 million birds in what is being called the country’s worst bird flu outbreak.
Monitoring and Prevention Efforts
Health officials urge farm workers exposed to infected animals to undergo testing, even if they do not exhibit symptoms. Such vigilance is critical to tracking and containing the spread of the virus.
In addition, antiviral medications are being provided to exposed individuals as a precautionary measure. These steps aim to prevent further spillover from animals to humans and to mitigate the risk of the virus mutating into a form that could facilitate human-to-human transmission.
Conclusion
The confirmation of a human H5N1 case in Oregon and the rising number of cases in California highlight the growing threat of avian influenza. While the risk to the general public remains low for now, the sheer scale of animal infections and the virus’s ability to cross species is cause for concern.
Public health agencies must remain vigilant and transparent as they navigate this evolving crisis. Enhanced monitoring, rapid reporting, and stricter biosecurity measures on farms are essential to curb the spread of this virus.
For the latest H5N1 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/canada-s-first-h5n1-human-infection-linked-to-d1-1-genotype-not-the-d3-13-variant-found-in-american-cows
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/u-s-cdc-now-reports-that-7-percent-of-tested-dairy-farmworkers-were-possibly-infected-with-the-h5n1-virus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/reassorted-strain-of-h5n1-bird-flu-virus-discovered-in-cambodia
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