Official declaration from the US Department of Health and Human Services or CDC

CDC Monitors Bird Flu Outbreak After Mutation Found in Louisiana Patient, 66 Human Cases Reported, Millions of Animals Impacted

Dec 31, 2024, 05:01 PM

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring the bird flu situation in the U.S., particularly after a 65-year-old Louisiana patient was found with a mutated version of the H5N1 virus, raising concerns about potential increased transmissibility to humans. The CDC has identified 66 human cases of bird flu in the country, with the Louisiana case being the first severe one. The mutation in the virus was not present in poultry samples from the patient's property, suggesting it emerged within the patient after infection. The CDC is on alert for signs of person-to-person transmission and further genetic changes that could enhance the virus's ability to spread among humans. Meanwhile, the bird flu outbreak has significantly impacted the agricultural sector, with nearly one million chickens in Ohio affected, leading to the culling of 931,000 chickens to prevent further spread. Additionally, 71% of California's dairy herds have been infected, prompting a state of emergency and new testing measures. The virus has also been detected in other states and countries, affecting various species including poultry, dairy cattle, and even big cats at an animal sanctuary in Washington. A 13-year-old patient in British Columbia developed severe symptoms, including respiratory failure, after initially mild symptoms. The virus has impacted 153,800 birds in Sacramento County, California, 113,000 birds in Ottawa County, Michigan, 300 birds in Albania, 16,000 birds in Germany, 1,000 turkeys in Israel, 44,000 birds in South Korea, and 227,500 birds in Arkansas, as well as 18,600 birds in Wisconsin.