California well being officers are investigating a potential case of H5N1 chook flue an infection in an individual who had contact with dairy cows within the Central Valley.
Based on a Thursday information launch from the California Division of Public Well being, the individual had delicate signs and the chance to most people stays low, “although people who interact with infected animals are at higher risk of getting bird flu.”
This human case, if confirmed, can be the fifth human case related to chook flu-infected dairy cows within the U.S.
“Ongoing health checks of individuals who interact with potentially infected animals helped us quickly detect and respond to this possible human case. Fortunately, as we’ve seen in other states with human infections, the individual has experienced mild symptoms,” stated Dr. Tomás J. Aragón, CDPH Director and State Public Well being Officer in a press launch.
As of Thursday, officers have reported 55 contaminated dairy herds within the state for the reason that virus was first reported in a Central Valley herd in late August.
Consultants say they don’t seem to be shocked {that a} employee might have been contaminated.
“With the rapid spread and increased detection of more infected herds in California, it’s to be expected,” stated Rick Shiny, a virologist and the previous head of the U.S. Biomedical Superior Analysis and Improvement Authority. “This outbreak of H5N1 is getting more concerning by the day.”
State officers recognized the contaminated individual as a employee at a dairy facility that skilled an outbreak amongst cattle. The individual’s solely symptom was conjunctivitis, or pinkeye.
The native well being laboratory examined for H5N1, and the state was notified a couple of potential “presumptive positive” consequence.
Take a look at outcomes have been despatched to the CDC for affirmation testing.
The individual is being handled at house with antiviral medicine.
Well being officers didn’t present any extra info — equivalent to age, gender or location — so as, they are saying, to guard the individual.
Officers say that individuals who have been uncovered to contaminated animals ought to look out for eye redness (conjunctivitis), cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nostril, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or physique aches, complications, fatigue, bother respiratory, and fever within the 10 days after publicity.
In the event that they begin to really feel sick, they need to isolate themselves and speak to their native public well being division.
“This virus is out of control,” stated Shiny, noting that he hopes California will likely be “more forthcoming and transparent with data” than what he’s noticed elsewhere.
“It is time for urgent and serious leadership and action to halt further transmission and mutation. The concept of letting it burn out through food animals, with unmonitored voluntary testing has failed,” he stated. “There are pandemic playbooks that we need to dust off and begin to implement.”
