Four Additional US Health Workers Exhibit Symptoms After Contact with Missouri Bird Flu Patient

By Julie Steenhuysen

Four additional healthcare workers in Missouri who were in contact with a hospitalized bird flu patient have developed mild respiratory symptoms, though none have been confirmed to have the virus, according to U.S. health officials.

The latest report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) brings the total number of healthcare workers who exhibited respiratory symptoms after caring for the Missouri patient to six.

In a departure from earlier cases this year, the Missouri patient, who was hospitalized on August 22, did not have any known contact with infected animals. Health experts are closely monitoring the situation for any signs that the virus may be spreading more readily among humans.

The investigation is being led by Missouri, with assistance from the CDC. According to a statement from Missouri health department spokeswoman Lisa Cox, the inquiry is ongoing and there is currently no evidence indicating person-to-person transmission of the virus.

Cox reported that one healthcare worker underwent a flu test and was negative for the virus. Symptoms in the other workers emerged too late for testing, she noted. Additionally, a household contact of the patient also developed symptoms but was not tested; all individuals involved have since recovered.

The state has collected blood samples from five healthcare workers and the household contact to check for antibodies that would suggest prior infection. The CDC is evaluating samples from both the hospitalized patient and the household contact.

Cox mentioned that the state is preparing the other samples to send to the CDC as soon as possible.

“This situation underscores the importance of taking this outbreak seriously,” said Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. He emphasized the need for quick results from the antibody testing to evaluate the risk of human-to-human transmission of the virus. “The gradual release of information from Missouri is concerning, and the state should formally request CDC assistance,” he added.

Cox stated that the state is committed to providing relevant updates as investigations progress.

The Missouri case marks the 14th instance of bird flu being diagnosed in the United States this year. The other 13 cases were connected to outbreaks on poultry or dairy farms and involved farm workers.