Human case of the chicken flu confirmed in Texas
A person in Texas has been identified with chicken flu, an an infection tied to the recent discovery of the virus in dairy cows, well being officers stated.
Fox – 26 Houston
Many Americans are brimming with questions after officers in Texas this week introduced the primary case of chicken flu in a human.
On Monday, Texas well being officers stated a person turned contaminated with chicken flu, or avian influenza A(H5N1) virus, after shut contact with contaminated cows. Last week sick dairy cattle in Texas and Kansas examined constructive for chicken flu. Bird flu was later reported in a Michigan dairy herd that included cows that had been transported from Texas. There are additionally cattle in New Mexico and Idaho which can be presumed to be constructive for the illness, officers stated.
The solely symptom reported by the Texas affected person was pink eye, or conjunctivitis, in accordance with an update Monday from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Officials say the chance to public well being stays low. They observe that there are steps individuals can take to curb the unfold of the possibly harmful virus.
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How does it unfold?
Bird flu primarily spreads by way of contact with contaminated birds. Most instances in people have occurred after a person had unprotected publicity to sick or useless contaminated animals.
Avian flu viruses infect birds’ respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts, which causes them to shed virus by way of their saliva, mucous and feces, the CDC stated. Humans and different mammals can get it after they get sufficient virus of their eyes, nostril, mouth or inhale it into their lungs.
People who’ve had shut contact or unprotected contact for lengthy intervals of time are at higher danger of an infection. The illness may cause gentle higher respiratory points or extreme sickness, together with pneumonia and multiple-organ failure that results in dying.
In the U.S., the illness tends to unfold from wild birds. However, outbreaks in industrial poultry or yard flocks that led to deaths have been reported in 48 states since February 2022.
Officials recognized the latest chicken flu instances in unpasteurized milk from sick cattle from dairy farms in Kansas and Texas, along with a constructive throat swab of a cow at one other Texas dairy farm.
Should we be fearful about people getting chicken flu?
It’s uncommon for people to be contaminated with chicken flu. The first human case within the U.S. occurred in 2022, in a person incarcerated in a Colorado jail. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday stated the present public well being danger is low, and, this can be a important measurement: there isn’t any person-to-person unfold of chicken flu to this point.
Still, there’s elevated danger for poultry, livestock and farmers and staff in these sectors, in addition to veterinarians, veterinary workers and first-responders who reply to instances.
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What precautions have been taken with chickens and eggs? What about dairy merchandise?
On Tuesday, the biggest U.S. hen egg producer reported constructive assessments for chicken flu at its facility within the Texas Panhandle. In a news release, Cal-Maine Foods stated manufacturing on the Panhandle facility stopped briefly, following protocols to stop chicken flu which can be set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Personnel on the firm killed about 1.6 million laying hens and 337,000 young hens to curb the unfold of the virus.
Among dairy cows, milk from animals suspected or confirmed to have the virus is being faraway from human meals provides. However, even when milk from contaminated dairy cows makes it to the industrial milk provide, pasteurization is efficient inactivating micro organism and viruses, together with influenza, in accordance with a March 29 joint news release from the CDC, USDA and the Food and Drug Administration. In addition to defending towards chicken flu, pasteurization is central to different well being efforts. The FDA says that unpasteurized uncooked milk can have harmful microorganisms harmful to human well being.
How can the unfold of chicken flu be stopped?
You can keep away from chicken flu by eliminating unprotected publicity to sick or useless animals, together with wild birds, poultry or domesticated birds, or different sick or useless wild or domesticated animals. This consists of contact with animal feces, waste or supplies contaminated by animals suspected or confirmed with chicken flu.
People ought to keep away from consuming raw or undercooked meals, resembling uncooked milk or cheeses, from animals with suspected or confirmed chicken flu.
Those working instantly with animals who may very well be contaminated ought to put on private protecting tools (PPE) resembling face masks – ideally accepted particulate respirators resembling N95 masks, in addition to goggles, gloves, boots and boot covers. Additionally, they need to use fluid-resistant coveralls and disposable head covers or hair covers.
People who’ve been close to animals confirmed or suspected of being sick ought to be monitored for indicators and signs for 10 days after the publicity. This consists of those that had been carrying PPE.
