CDC official reports or press releases

Missouri Probes Possible H5N1 Human Transmission as Eight Fall Ill, Including Four Healthcare Workers

Sep 27, 2024, 05:09 PM

Health officials in Missouri are investigating a potential cluster of H5N1 avian influenza infections after four additional healthcare workers developed mild respiratory symptoms following contact with a patient who tested positive for the virus on August 22. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on Friday that these workers were not tested while ill, and serological testing is pending to determine if their illnesses are linked to H5N1. The investigation has expanded to include at least one household member and a total of eight people, raising concerns about possible human-to-human transmission—the first such instances in the United States. Experts are urging increased surveillance and thorough testing amid concerns about the rigor of the current investigation by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.