This year, the U.S. has reported 14 human cases of H5N1 bird flu, with a recent case standing out as the first in an individual without any known connection to farm work.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed on Friday that a hospital patient with no apparent contact with infected animals tested positive for the virus. This prompted the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to investigate the transmission route.
The affected individual, an adult whose identity remains confidential due to privacy laws, had pre-existing health conditions but has since recovered after receiving antiviral treatment and has been discharged from the hospital. Close contacts have shown no signs of infection.
Notably, this case marks the first detection through Missouri’s flu surveillance system, rather than through specific H5N1 protocols, which have been primarily aimed at monitoring livestock-related outbreaks in dairy cows and poultry.
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A multistate outbreak among dairy cows began in mid-March, with subsequent cases identified among dairy and poultry workers. With this latest incident, Missouri joins three other states reporting human cases this year.
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Most reported cases have emerged in Colorado, which has seen a total of 10 infections. Michigan has reported two cases, while Texas and Missouri each recorded one.
The Missouri patient was hospitalized on August 22, although it’s unclear if hospitalization was due to the bird flu or another health concern. So far, no human-to-human transmission has occurred in the U.S.
Symptoms of bird flu in humans can range from none to mild issues like upper respiratory infections or eye infections, with severe cases potentially leading to pneumonia.
The CDC has stated it is monitoring flu surveillance data closely, particularly in affected regions, and has noted no unusual influenza activity in the population at this time. “While rare, there can be instances of novel influenza A cases where the animal source is not identified,” they indicated. The primary concern in these scenarios is the absence of ongoing transmission.
At present, the CDC assesses the public risk as “low,” but they may adjust guidelines based on ongoing investigations. Efforts are underway to sequence the virus genome for further insights.