CDC Tells Docs to Be on the Lookout for Bird Flu Instances

The CDC needs clinicians and well being departments to contemplate potential infections with the extremely pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus, generally referred to as chicken flu, in individuals with publicity to probably contaminated animal sources.

The health advisory alert comes on the heels of Monday’s announcement by the CDC and the Texas State Department of Health {that a} farmworker on a industrial dairy farm was contaminated with the H5N1 virus after publicity to presumably contaminated cattle. That person’s solely symptom was gentle conjunctivitis. The case was the second within the U.S., following a case in 2022 in Colorado.

The new case is notable as a result of it’s the first occasion of presumed transmission from a cow to a human, occurring within the midst of a first-ever outbreak of the virus in dairy cattle. The CDC alert mentioned no extra circumstances in people have been reported and that no human-to-human transmission of the virus has been recognized, with the affected person’s family members receiving post-exposure prophylaxis with oseltamivir (Tamiflu).

“The present danger these viruses pose to the general public stays low,” the CDC alert acknowledged. However, individuals with job-related or leisure exposures to probably contaminated animals are at greater danger of an infection.

The advisory alert advisable that clinicians ought to think about the opportunity of H5N1 an infection in individuals displaying indicators or signs of acute respiratory sickness and/or conjunctivitis and who’ve relevant exposure history, similar to:

• Contact with probably contaminated sick or lifeless birds, livestock, or different animals inside the week earlier than symptom onset
• Direct contact with water or surfaces contaminated with feces, unpasteurized milk or unpasteurized dairy merchandise, or elements (carcasses, inner organs, and many others.) of probably contaminated animals
• Persons who’ve had extended publicity to probably contaminated birds or different animals in a confined house

Symptoms appropriate with chicken flu can vary from gentle higher respiratory sickness to extreme systemic illness. If appropriate indicators and signs are current, the CDC recommends that clinicians ought to do the next:

• Isolate the affected person, use private protecting tools (PPE), and observe an infection management suggestions
• Initiate empiric antiviral remedy as quickly as attainable with oral or enteric oseltamivir, twice day by day for five days
• Treatment shouldn’t be delayed whereas ready for laboratory outcomes and ought to be initiated whatever the time since onset of signs
• Notify state and native well being division to rearrange testing for the H5N1 virus
• Collect respiratory specimens from the affected person to check for H5N1 virus on the state well being division; if the affected person has conjunctivitis, with or with out respiratory signs, each a conjunctival swab and a nasopharyngeal swab ought to be collected for testing

Patients ought to be inspired to isolate away from family members and never go to work or college till check outcomes point out they don’t seem to be contaminated with the virus.