A person in Missouri with no known animal contact has tested positive for H5 bird flu, the first case in the US outbreak with no known exposure to sick animals. The patient, hospitalized with underlying health conditions, tested positive for flu A with the H5 subtype at a Missouri state public health laboratory. The CDC confirmed the subtype and is studying the specimen further.
Officials are investigating if the virus is related to strains in wild birds or dairy cows, and if it has mutated to be more transmissible or virulent among people. The concern is increasing severity of disease and potential person-to-person transmission. Despite previous mild cases among healthy farmworkers, bird flu could be more dangerous in the wider population, especially those with health conditions.
Health officials are tracing the patient’s potential exposures and contacts to understand how the virus spread. Bird flu, usually found in birds, has recently spread to mammals, including dairy cows and other livestock. Two indoor cats in Colorado tested positive for the virus, and house mice have also been infected.
This is the 15th case of bird flu among people in the US since 2022 and the 14th this year, marking the first known human case in Missouri. The patient has recovered and been discharged from the hospital. Officials continue to monitor the situation, emphasizing the importance of understanding transmission routes and potential risks associated with the virus.
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