A dairy farm worker in Michigan has tested positive for an H5 bird flu virus, making it the second human case linked to the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus among dairy cows in the US. The worker experienced a mild eye infection and has since recovered, similar to the first case in Texas. Health officials monitored the worker for symptoms due to exposure to H5N1-infected cattle.
The CDC confirmed the infection after swabbing the worker’s nose and eye, with the nasal swab testing negative and the eye swab positive. The risk assessment for the general public remains low, but precautions for those exposed to infected animals are emphasized.
It is suspected that the worker may have been infected by raw milk splashed in the eye or contaminated hands. Further testing is needed to determine if the virus is H5N1 and if it poses potential risks for human-to-human transmission. Experts are closely monitoring the outbreak in dairy cows for any signs of the virus adapting to humans.
The federal government is working on producing a vaccine matched to the virus circulating in dairy cows. Currently, 52 dairy cow herds across nine states have been infected with H5N1, with Michigan reporting 19 infected herds. This ongoing situation highlights the importance of early detection and monitoring of emerging illnesses.
Vocabulary List:
- Pathogenic (adjective): Capable of causing disease.
- Avian (adjective): Relating to birds.
- Influenza (noun): A viral infection causing feverachesand respiratory symptoms.
- Contaminated (adjective): Made impure by exposure to harmful substances.
- Transmission (noun): The act or process of passing something from one placepersonor thing to another.
- Adapting (verb): Changing to fit new circumstances or conditions.
