An individual in Texas has been identified with avian influenza following the current discovery of the virus in dairy cattle, state officers have mentioned.
The Texas Division of State Well being Companies mentioned the human case of avian influenza A(H5N1) was recognized in an individual who had direct publicity to dairy cattle presumed to be contaminated with the virus.
The affected person, who skilled eye irritation as their solely symptom, was examined for flu late final week with confirmatory testing carried out by the Facilities for Illness Management (CDC) over the weekend.
The individual is being handled with the antiviral drug oseltamivir, in keeping with the division, which added the case didn’t change the chance for most people, which stays low.
In line with the CDC, that is the second human case of H5N1 flu in the US and the primary linked to an publicity to cattle.
In March, the Texas Animal Well being Fee introduced the primary instances of avian influenza in dairy cattle within the state.
Avian influenza A(H5N1) is a kind of flu virus that normally infects wild birds and might unfold to home birds and different animals.
It often infects folks, although this can be very uncommon for it to be transmitted from one individual to a different.
Preliminary testing exhibits the virus has not modified in a technique to make it extra prone to unfold amongst people.
The Texas Division of State Well being Companies mentioned: “The cattle infections don’t current a priority for the industrial milk provide.
“Dairies are required to destroy or divert milk from any sick cows, plus pasteurization kills avian flu viruses.
“DSHS is offering steering to affected dairies about learn how to decrease employees’ publicity and the way individuals who work with affected cattle can monitor for flu-like signs and get examined.
“Diseases in folks with H5N1 flu infections have ranged from gentle, similar to eye an infection and higher respiratory signs, to extreme, similar to pneumonia and loss of life.”
