Three contacts, two of whom are healthcare workers, were closely monitored after a bird flu patient in Missouri was hospitalized, according to health officials.
On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared that two healthcare workers and one household contact were linked to Missouri’s first bird avian influenza A patient.
It was reported that…
- One healthcare worker showed mild respiratory symptoms but was not tested for influenza as the illness had resolved before the investigation began.
- Another healthcare worker who was exposed to the bird flu case in Missouri tested negative for influenza.
- One household contact fell ill on the same day the bird flu patient in Missouri was diagnosed but was not tested and has since recovered.
The CDC mentioned that the simultaneous development of symptoms in two contacts does not indicate person-to-person spread but rather suggests a common exposure.
The H5 virus is mainly found in wild birds and poultry and has been detected in dairy cows and other animals. It can occasionally infect humans through close contact with infected animals or contaminated environments.
On September 12, the CDC announced that it could not determine whether the Missouri case was related to an animal infection. The patient also did not report any known exposure to animals, as stated by Missouri health officials.
Based on their latest update, the CDC advises people to avoid contact with sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, domesticated birds, and other animals (including cows), if feasible.
