CDC Confirms Human Case of Bird Flu in Missouri, According to Reuters

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a case of avian influenza A in a human, as reported by the state of Missouri. The case was identified through the state’s seasonal flu surveillance system.

The CDC announced the confirmation occurred on Thursday, and an investigation into the potential exposure is currently underway by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

The patient, who had underlying medical conditions and was hospitalized, received treatment with antiviral medications. Fortunately, the patient has since been discharged and is now recovering.

There is no immediate evidence of animal exposure linked to this case, nor has there been any ongoing transmission identified among close contacts.

This marks the 14th human case of H5 reported in the United States in 2024, and notably, it is the first case without a known occupational exposure to infected animals. While other novel flu cases have been found through the national flu surveillance system, this is the first instance of H5 being detected through that system.

H5 bird flu has been prevalent among wild birds globally and is responsible for outbreaks in poultry and dairy cows in the U.S., with several recent human cases among workers in those industries. Although there have been outbreaks of H5 in commercial and backyard poultry flocks this year, no such outbreaks in cattle have been reported in Missouri, where the last reported case in a commercial poultry flock occurred in February.

While H5N1 bird flu has been previously detected in wild birds in Missouri, fourteen states in the U.S. have reported outbreaks of the H5N1 virus among dairy cattle. The virus’s transmission from birds to cows raises concerns about its potential adaptation for human spread.

The CDC has indicated that the risk to the general public from H5N1 remains low, according to the current data available.