‘Be prepared,’ CDC tells state leaders after bird flu found in Texas

Officers on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention mentioned Monday they met with state well being officers in Georgia and throughout the nation, telling them to arrange for extra human circumstances of fowl flu after an worker from a Texas dairy was handled for the virus.

Whereas saying the chance to the general public is low, the federal company is urging state leaders to place “up-to-date operational plans” in place in case extra farm staff take a look at optimistic for the flu.

The CDC issued a well being alert Friday asking docs to check any agricultural staff who’ve been uncovered to contaminated birds or different animals. Agricultural staff must be monitored for indicators and signs of sickness from their first publicity and for 10 days after their final publicity. Those that have labored inside six ft of contaminated animals must be examined for the virus, even when they haven’t any signs, in keeping with the CDC.

The CDC additionally mentioned state well being departments ought to notify the CDC inside 24 hours of figuring out a case.

The advisory adopted information on April 1 {that a} dairy cow employee in Texas had turn into the primary individual in the US to catch this model of avian flu – generally known as extremely avian influenza. pathogen (HPAI) – from a mammal, federal well being officers mentioned. mentioned.

To date, not less than 16 dairy herds within the nation’s six states (Idaho, Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Texas and Ohio) have examined optimistic for the flu, in keeping with the U.S. Division of Agriculture.

The extremely pathogenic H5N1 virus and associated strains of the virus have killed tons of of tens of millions of untamed and home birds and lots of species of untamed mammals worldwide in recent times. However that is the primary time the virus has been detected in cattle, in keeping with the CDC.

The dairy employee is simply the second human case of fowl flu in the US. In 2022, a employee on a poultry farm in Colorado examined optimistic for the virus however recovered. This individual reported fatigue for a number of days as the one symptom.

Georgia Division of Public Well being spokeswoman Nancy Nydam mentioned a number of workers attended Friday’s assembly with the CDC, together with epidemiologists, laboratory staff and a public well being veterinarian. She mentioned DPH has a robust partnership with the Georgia Division of Agriculture and “a lot of the avian flu planning already exists.”

“We’ll work to formalize the plans and broaden them as essential to different areas akin to emergency preparedness, GPHL (Georgia Public Well being Laboratory), nursing and communications as applicable,” he mentioned. she mentioned in an e mail.

Officers say the virus has not mutated to the purpose the place it may unfold simply between individuals, however consultants fear in regards to the potential for viral evolution.

The CDC mentioned staff with shut, extended contact with contaminated animals are on the biggest danger of an infection. For these staff, the CDC recommends further precautions outlined within the “Suggestions for Farmers; » Homeowners of poultry, yard birds and livestock; and employee safety.

The overwhelming majority of individuals contaminated with fowl flu contracted it immediately from birds, however scientists are cautious of any modifications that would enhance the chance to people. There have been some experiences of person-to-person unfold inside a household in Southeast Asia after a member of the family caught the virus from poultry.

Federal well being and USDA officers launched an announcement final week emphasizing that there “stays no considerations” in regards to the security of the industrial milk provide as a result of dairy merchandise are pasteurized earlier than being launched. ‘enter the market, including that companies proceed to observe the state of affairs. Pasteurization is required for all milk getting into interstate commerce for human consumption.

What’s the final one?

— A Texas dairy employee examined optimistic for extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1, or fowl flu, changing into the second U.S. case of a human contracting the virus since 2022.

— That is the primary time that this virus has been detected in cows and it seems to be the primary case of transmission of avian flu from cows to people. There are presently no indicators of person-to-person unfold of this virus.

— Present antiviral flu medicines, akin to Tamiflu, are efficient in opposition to the virus.

— The CDC recommends sporting private protecting gear (PPE) when farmworkers or hobbyists are in direct or shut contact (inside six ft) of sick or lifeless animals, together with poultry, wild birds, flocks of yard birds or different animals, animals. fecal matter, litter or supplies doubtlessly contaminated with HPAI viruses.

— That is an rising and quickly evolving state of affairs that the CDC is monitoring intently. Right now, the CDC believes that the general danger posed by this virus to most of the people stays low.

Supply: Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention