The United States has confirmed a second human case of bird flu after an individual tested positive following contact with livestock.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced on Wednesday that a dairy worker in Michigan has become the second human infected in connection with the current outbreak.
The worker had symptoms in his eyes resembling conjunctivitis.
The H5N1 virus was initially detected in dairy cows in late March, as reported by the US Department of Agriculture. It is believed that wild birds may have transmitted the virus to the cows.
In April, a dairy worker in Texas became the first confirmed case of human infection from a cow. The worker had contact with dairy cows suspected of carrying the virus.
The likelihood of human infection remains low.
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Direct contact with poultry
In 2022, Colorado authorities documented a case of bird flu in a human, likely contracted through direct contact with poultry.
The world is experiencing the largest outbreak of bird flu ever recorded, spreading across the globe. While primarily affecting birds, this virus also impacts various mammals, including cats, bears, and seals.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that human symptoms can range from eye and respiratory infections to severe, potentially life-threatening diseases like pneumonia.
Health experts caution that the virus may evolve to enable human-to-human transmission. However, this has not yet been observed.
Precautions to take
To minimize the risk of contracting bird flu, it is essential to practice good hygiene and avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds.
Additionally, people should avoid raw or undercooked poultry and eggs. Properly cooking meat and eggs can kill the virus.
If traveling to areas where bird flu outbreaks have been reported, travelers should avoid live animal markets and farms where poultry is present.
While there is currently no vaccine available for bird flu in humans, researchers are actively working to develop one. In the meantime, health officials stress the importance of monitoring and quickly responding to any potential outbreaks.
