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A person in Texas has been recognized with chicken flu, an an infection tied to the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows, well being officers mentioned Monday.
The affected person is being handled with an antiviral drug and their solely reported symptom was eye redness, Texas well being officers mentioned. Health officers say the person had been contact with cows presumed to be contaminated, and the chance to the general public stays low.
Last week, dairy cows in Texas and Kansas have been reported to be contaminated with chicken flu — and federal agriculture officers later confirmed infections in a Michigan dairy herd that had not too long ago obtained cows from Texas.
The virus has been present in tons of of mammal species globally in recent years.
This chicken flu was first recognized as a risk to individuals throughout a 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong. More than 460 individuals have died up to now 20 years from chicken flu infections, in accordance with the World Health Organization.
The overwhelming majority of contaminated individuals acquired it instantly from birds, however scientists have been on guard for any signal of unfold amongst individuals.
It’s solely the second time a person within the United States has been recognized with what’s referred to as Type A H5N1 virus. In 2022, a jail inmate in a piece program picked it up whereas killing contaminated birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His solely symptom was fatigue, and he recovered.
Texas officers didn’t determine the newly contaminated person, nor launch any particulars about what introduced them involved with the cows.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives help from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely accountable for all content material.
