US detects its first human case of bird flu transmitted by a dairy cow

One person tested positive for bird flu in U.S after being infected by a dairy cow, authorities announced this Monday Texasalthough they clarified that the risk of transmission to humans remains low.

“The patient reported redness in the eyes (compatible with conjunctivitis) as the only symptom, and he is recovering.”, they stated. He has been isolated and is being treated with antiviral medication, the hospital said in a statement. Department of State Health Services of Texas, in the south of the country.

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“The case was identified in a person who had exposure direct to dairy cattle suspected of being infected with avian influenza”, he detailed. It is believed to be associated with the recent detection of avian influenza on dairy farms in Texas and Kansasannounced by health authorities last week.

The contagion of a strain of Bird flu highly pathogenic (IAAP) to cows would have been caused by wild birds, several of which were found dead around a farm in Texas, as detailed at the time.

State and federal health agencies are working “investigate the human cases and animals and understand how the virus spreads to protect livestock and the people who work with them.”specified the Texas Institution. “The case does not change the risk to the general public, which remains low”he clarified.

This is the second human case of bird flu (H5N1) in U.S and the first related to exposure to livestock. There was a previous case in 2022 in Colorado of a person who had direct exposure to birds.

O bird flu (H5N1) “is a type of flu virus that usually infects wild birds and can be transmitted to poultry and other animals. It occasionally infects people, although it is extremely rare for it to be transmitted from one person to another”, stated the Texas entity.

“To the initial tests show that the virus has not changed in a way that increases the likelihood of spreading between humans,” the statement added.

“The illnesses of people with infections H5N1 flu range from mild, such as eye infections and upper respiratory symptoms, to severe, such as pneumonia and death“, explained the institution.

This contagion does not pose a risk to the important dairy industry in the country. Texas, because farms isolate infected animals and eliminate or divert their production. According to health authorities, if any contaminated cow’s milk enters the Food chainthe pasteurization process deactivates the virus.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.