The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) issued a well being alert Friday to tell clinicians, state well being departments and the general public of a case of avian influenza — aka hen flu — in an individual who had contact with dairy cows in Texas.
A farmworker on a industrial dairy farm in Texas developed conjunctivitis final week, and subsequently examined constructive for hen flu, the company mentioned.
The constructive hen flu prognosis got here after milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas examined constructive for the illness.
The an infection follows a 2022 case in Colorado, and is the second particular person to check constructive for the hen flu virus within the U.S.
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A case of hen flu was present in a farmer who had contact with dairy cows. (iStock)
Whereas the CDC mentioned that the present danger these viruses pose to the general public stays low, people who find themselves commonly round contaminated birds, cattle, or different animals are at increased danger of an infection and may take applicable precautions.
Since 1997, greater than 900 sporadic human instances of hen flu have been reported in 23 international locations.
The CDC mentioned that greater than half of the roughly 900 instances resulted in dying.
Scientific sampling of eggs in poor situation, evaluation of avian influenza in people, conceptual picture (iStock)
Whereas the fatality price for people is excessive, there’s a close to 100% fatality price for birds with the illness.
AVIAN INFLUENZA: SYMPTOMS OF THE DISEASE AND HOW IT AFFECTS BIRDS AND HUMANS
Since 2015–16, hen flu instances in people have decreased considerably, and just a few sporadic human instances have been reported worldwide since 2022.
The U.S. Division of Agriculture says milk from dairy cows in Texas and Kansas has examined constructive for hen flu.
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People who catch avian influenza usually expertise no signs to delicate signs.
These with extreme instances will expertise frequent flu-like signs comparable to cough, headache, shortness of breath, sore throat, fever, chills, fatigue and runny nostril.
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Avian influenza is recognized by means of laboratory testing.
Individuals involved about contracting hen flu can defend themselves through the use of protecting gear, comparable to gloves and eye safety and washing their palms incessantly.
Qualifying folks can obtain the annual influenza vaccine.
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