Another case of bird flu has been confirmed in Michigan, marking the third instance of human infection connected to an ongoing outbreak of the H5N1 influenza virus among U.S. dairy cows.
This latest report follows similar cases in Texas in April and Michigan earlier in May. All three individuals affected were dairy farm workers who had direct contact with infected cows.
While the initial cases primarily manifested with conjunctivitis, or “pink eye,” the most recent case also included symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection.
The CDC emphasizes that the risk of human-to-human transmission of bird flu remains low, with the greatest concern for farm workers in close proximity to infected dairy cows. Given that 69 herds across 9 states have reported infections since March, further cases among farm workers are expected. Notably, no cases have been reported in Florida thus far.
Efforts are underway to curb the virus’s spread among cattle, including the development of a specialized bird flu vaccine for cows. Additionally, all cattle are being screened for bird flu when transported across state lines.
The CDC’s ultimate objective is to eradicate the H5N1 virus from cattle populations, a measure that would significantly reduce the risk of future human cases of bird flu.
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