A dairy farm worker in Michigan has been identified as the third individual in the United States to contract the H5N1 bird flu, escalating concerns over an outbreak.
While the risk of bird-to-human transmission is extremely low, President Biden is already instructing vaccine makers to prepare for a potential pandemic.
Daily Mail reported that the U.S. government is reportedly close to finalizing a deal with Moderna to fund its bird flu mRNA vaccine trial as concerns remain surrounding the outbreak in poultry and cattle.
After a farmer exhibited symptoms such as a persistent cough and significant eye discharge, health officials initiated immediate treatment with the antiviral medication oseltamivir.
Batasha Bagdasarian, head of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, revealed that the state has been proactive in addressing the outbreak since bird flu was detected in local poultry and dairy herds. She also reiterated that, to date, the risk of widespread human transmission remains low.
"Michigan has led a swift public health response," said Bagdasarian, stressing that no colleagues or household contacts of the infected worker have reported similar symptoms. This response includes urging farmers who might exhibit cold-like symptoms to come forward for testing.
Blood samples from farmers will undergo testing to determine if there are cases of asymptomatic spread. The effort is part of a broader campaign to ensure that both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases are identified and treated promptly, reducing the risk of further transmission.
FDA commissioner Dr. Robert Califf mentioned that the agency is bracing for the potential mutation of the virus, which could enhance its ability to spread among humans. Despite the seriousness of these precautions, the overall risk to the public is still considered minimal.
This latest infection follows two other cases among dairy farm workers in Texas and another in Michigan. Significantly, each incident appears to be an independent event of animal-to-human transmission without evidence of sustained human-to-human spread.
Health officials are on high alert after a Michigan worker tested positive for an H5 flu virus, with final confirmation for H5N1 still pending; the worker exhibited typical flu symptoms associated with H5N1.
Additionally, the recent deaths of four pet cats from bird flu, two of whom had no direct contact with poultry or dairy, have raised concerns about the virus's potential to cross species barriers, underlining the necessity for rigorous surveillance and preventive actions.
The discovery of bird flu fragments in milk and one dairy cow has led to public reassurances from health authorities like the FDA, asserting that milk and beef remain safe for consumption. They are implementing strict measures to prevent any virus fragments from entering the food supply, including enhanced testing of dairy herds and livestock.
The U.S. government is also advancing a late-stage trial of Moderna's mRNA vaccine for H5N1, highlighting their proactive stance on public health security. Health officials continue to emphasize the importance of vigilance and cooperation among agricultural workers to maintain safety and prevent any potential pandemic.
