The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a new case of human bird flu. A worker on a dairy farm in Texas was tested positive for the virus. The worker got pink eye, a common symptom, at the end of March. The CDC confirms that it is the dangerous bird flu virus, also known as HPAI.
Farm animals and wild birds in Texas were found to be carrying this virus. But, this is the first case of a person getting infected from cows. The patient is now getting medical treatment and is recovering. People living with the patient have not got sick.
The CDC is carefully studying the situation. They have tested animals, and found no major changes in the virus that would make it more likely to infect humans. USDA, an American government agency, found that 5 states including Texas, have dairy cattle with this virus. They believe this is because of cattle being moved from one place to another.
It’s the second case of bird flu in a person in the U.S. The first case was reported last year in April in Colorado. The CDC warns that people who have close contact with birds or other animals might be at higher risk and so they should be careful. Although the risk is low, it can be deadly. The virus has killed more than half the people it infected from 2003 to 2016. It is the worst outbreak in U.S. history, affecting 82 million birds in 48 states.
Vocabulary Insights:
- HPAI /?e?t??pi??e??a?/ (noun): High Pathogenic Avian Influenza, a severe form of bird flu virus that is dangerous to both birds and humans.
- Treatment /?tri?tm?nt/ (noun): Medical care given to a patient for an illness or injury.
- Studying /?st?d.i.??/ (verb): The act of examining or analyzing something in detail.
- USDA /?ju???s?di??e?/ (noun): United States Department of Agriculture, a federal agency responsible for developing and executing federal laws related to farming, forestry, rural economic development, and food.
- Higher risk /?ha??r r?sk/ (phrase): A greater chance or likelihood of experiencing something, often used in the context of health or safety.
- Affecting /??f?kt??/ (verb): Having an effect on; making a difference to.
Vocabulary List:
- Pathogenic (adjective): Capable of causing disease.
- Influenza (noun): A viral infection that causes fevercoughand muscle aches.
- Symptom (noun): A physical or mental feature indicating a condition.
- Confirm (verb): To establish the truth or correctness of.
- Epidemic (noun): A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community.
- Outbreak (noun): A sudden occurrence of something unwelcomesuch as disease.
