The United States announced the first serious human case of bird flu on Wednesday, and it was for a person residing in Louisiana, while the state of California declared a state of emergency to confront the growing outbreak.
A Louisiana patient was hospitalized in critical condition after suspected contact with an infected backyard herd. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Center for Disease Control). The case, confirmed on December 13, is the first in the country linked to serious illness due to bird flu.
“This is the first case of H5N1 avian influenza in the United States that has been linked to exposure to a backyard flock,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.
As the CDC confirmed a case of bird flu, California Governor Gavin Newsom A state of emergency was declared on Wednesday, calling it a precautionary measure to help contain the spread of the virus.
To date, no person-to-person spread of the virus has been detected in California, and nearly all infected individuals have been exposed to infected livestock, the statement said.
“This announcement is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to quickly respond to this outbreak. Building on California’s testing and surveillance system – the largest in the country – we are committed to continuing to protect public health, support our agricultural industry, and ensure Californians have access to Accurate and up-to-date information: “While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus,” Newsom said in a statement.
Since April, 61 human cases of H5N1 avian influenza virus have been reported in the United States. The virus has spread to 16 states among dairy cattle, after it was first discovered in Texas and Kansas in March.
The recent bird flu case in Louisiana highlights the ongoing spread of the H5N1 avian influenza virus, as genomic data shows the virus belongs to the D1.1 genotype, the CDC said. This genotype has been linked to recent discoveries in wild birds and poultry across the United States, as well as human cases in British Columbia.
Get weekly health news
Get the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday.
On November 3, the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that a teenager had contracted a human case of avian influenza, caused by influenza A (H5N1) virus. This was the first human case of locally acquired avian influenza virus in Canada. As of Nov. 25, the county reported the teen remained in critical condition.
Despite this latest case in Louisiana, the CDC maintains that the overall public health risk from the H5N1 virus remains low. in canada, The risk also remains low.
Although several outbreaks of avian influenza have occurred on dairy farms in multiple states, the virus has not been detected on dairy farms anywhere in Canada.
Experts say human-to-human transmission of H5N1 – a highly pathogenic strain of bird flu – is rare with no evidence of sustained transmission. The majority of human cases in the United States and around the world have been caused by contact with infected birds, farm animals, or wildlife.
-With files from The Canadian Press and Reuters
&Copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
