U.S. finds non-animal exposure bird flu

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Published: September 12, 2024

The case was the first in the U.S. without known animal transmission, as well as the first case requiring hospitalization, alarming infectious disease experts. | Getty Images

Glacier FarmMedia – Missouri’s department of health and senior services says a person hospitalized with bird flu was the first human case detected in the United States without known animal exposure.

The person, who also had underlying medical conditions, was sent to hospital on Aug. 22 and later tested positive with the H5 avian influenza strain. The infection was detected by Missouri’s state standard flu surveillance system. The U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said it will study the specimen more.

The case was the first in the U.S. without known animal transmission, as well as the first case requiring hospitalization, alarming infectious disease experts.

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However, it has not been confirmed that the cause of the person’s hospitalization was bird flu. All 15 previous human cases in the U.S. in the current outbreak worked in farms and only showed minor illness.

About the author

Adam Peleshaty

Adam Peleshaty

Reporter

Adam Peleshaty is a longtime resident of Stonewall, Man., living next door to his grandparents’ farm. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in statistics from the University of Winnipeg. Before joining Glacier FarmMedia, Adam was an award-winning community newspaper reporter in Manitoba's Interlake. He is a Winnipeg Blue Bombers season ticket holder and worked as a timekeeper in hockey, curling, basketball and football.

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