U.S. Patient Infected With Bird Flu Strain Flagged for ‘Pandemic Potential

A new report says a U.S. patient has tested positive for a bird flu strain that experts warn could have “pandemic potential.” Health officials are investigating how the individual became infected and whether the virus shows signs of spreading among people. While the risk to the public remains low, the case has prompted renewed monitoring efforts and raised concerns among researchers tracking evolving avian flu outbreaks.

A Washington state resident has been hospitalized with an H5N5 bird flu infection the first human case of this strain ever reported and the first avian influenza infection in a U.S. patient in nine months, according to state health officials. The individual, an older adult from Grays Harbor County with underlying medical conditions, has been hospitalized since early this month.

Health investigators have not yet determined how the patient contracted the virus, though early evidence points to exposure to backyard poultry. Both state and federal health and agricultural agencies continue to investigate.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the newly detected H5N5 strain has never been identified in humans, making the case significant, even as the agency maintains that the overall risk to the public remains low. Experts note that avian influenza is typically spread through contact with an infected animal’s saliva, mucus, feces, or in dairy cattle milk. Transmission risks often rise in late fall and winter as migrating birds mix with domestic flocks.

The current U.S. outbreak, which began in January 2022, has resulted in more infections in mammals than previous waves. While there is still no evidence of human-to-human transmission in the United States, Washington state officials are monitoring anyone who had close contact with the patient for symptoms and are offering testing and preventive care.

Influenza researchers remain concerned about the virus’s potential to evolve. Dr. Richard Webby, an avian influenza expert, cautioned that although the virus faces biological hurdles before it could spread easily among humans, its future trajectory is uncertain. “It’s not an easy leap for this virus to switch from being a duck virus to a human virus,” he said, adding that the virus still carries “pandemic potential.”

Nationwide, the CDC has documented 70 human bird flu cases during the current outbreak. Most infections have been mild such as fever or conjunctivitis though one elderly patient with pre-existing conditions died in January. The majority of cases occurred in people who had frequent, direct contact with animals: 41 among cattle workers, 24 among poultry workers, two involving other animal exposures, and three with no clearly identified source.

Health officials urge people who work with animals to use proper protective gear and handle animal waste with caution. Washington’s Department of Health advises residents cleaning bird feeders or areas contaminated with droppings to wear gloves and disinfect surfaces using commercial cleaners or a bleach solution (one part bleach to ten parts water). Residents should avoid handling sick or dead wildlife; if disposal is necessary, gloves, a mask, and double-bagging the carcass are recommended, followed by thorough handwashing.

Officials also warn against consuming raw or undercooked dairy or meat products, including unpasteurized milk and cheese. While the seasonal flu vaccine does not protect against bird flu, public health experts recommend getting vaccinated to reduce the already small chance of simultaneous infection with both human and avian influenza strains an occurrence that could, in rare circumstances, enable viral mutation and increased spread.

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Source: NDTV‍