The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is actively looking at multiple indicators to monitor for avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses, including looking for spread of the virus to or among humans. It’s especially concerning since Missouri reported its first human case of H5N1 avian influenza in a patient who had significant underlying medical conditions but reported no exposure to animals—the typical source of such virus cases. The Missouri patient is the 14th human case of H5N1 this year, and observers are still unsure of the source of this particular infection. Another 7 people who have come in contact with the patient have been tested for infection, and none have tested positive. The patient has since recovered. In an NPR interview, a virologist at Washington University in St. Louis called human-to-human transmission “our worst fear because once you go there, then obviously all bets are off.”
Risk remains low: CDC and state and local health departments monitor people exposed to infected animals for 10 days after exposure. Between March 24, 2024 and last week, monitoring efforts have included at least 5,000 people. Officials stress that the risk of H5N1 avian influenza in the general public is low.
Read More