Off The Record
Another Area Declares a State of Emergency After the US’s First Severe Bird Flu Case
This is the first instance of bird flu in the United States connected to a backyard flock, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The first severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1) (“H5N1 bird flu”) in the United States was reported in a patient in Louisiana. On December 13, 2024, the CDC confirmed the virus’s presence.
To find the origin of the H5N1 bird flu epidemic. It has been verified, nevertheless, that the patient came into contact with sick and dead birds from backyard flocks. This is the first instance of H5N1 avian flu linked to exposure to backyard flocks in the United States.
Furthermore, 37 instances have been linked to dairy herds, 21 to poultry farms and culling operations, and 2 in which the exposure source is yet unknown.
The H5N1 bird flu virus from the Louisiana patient, according to genomic analysis, is of the D1.1 genotype, which has been connected to recent detections in poultry and wild birds in the United States as well as human cases in Canada and Washington.
This is not the same as the B3.13 genotype found in outbreaks of poultry, dairy cows, and some human cases. Additional sequencing and virus isolation from the ill patient are being carried out by the CDC.
Since the H5N1 bird flu virus has caused severe sickness and fatalities in other countries, including in 2024, one severe case in a person is not unusual. Person-to-person transmission is still not supported by any evidence. Furthermore, the CDC maintains that there is little risk to the general public’s health from H5N1 bird flu.
However, when cases of H5N1 bird flu appeared in dairy cows in Southern California, California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to speed up the state’s response.
Since its initial confirmed identification in Texas and Kansas on March 25, 2024, the virus has spread to 16 states. In January 2022, bird flu was discovered in South Carolina’s wild bird population, and in July 2022, it was discovered in California.
Following reports of a dairy cow outbreak in Kansas and Texas, the CDFA started monitoring herds in California. So far, seven states—including 34 in California—have recorded 61 confirmed human cases.
According to Newsom, a State of Emergency allows for more flexibility in containment strategies, contracts, and manpower. He told the public that in order to combat the outbreak, California has put in place the most comprehensive testing and surveillance system in the country.
The governor stated, “We are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information.”
People have been advised to lower their risk of H5N1 exposure as the government seeks to improve public health. Contact with sick or deceased animals, including domesticated animals, wild birds, and poultry, is discouraged for the general population.
Personal protection equipment (PPE), such as gloves, safety goggles, N95 respirators, and disposable coveralls, should be worn to reduce risks if exposure cannot be avoided.
To further reduce the risk of viral contamination, consumers should eat pasteurized dairy products and cook meat, poultry, and eggs to acceptable internal temperatures.
For ten days, people who are around sick animals are recommended to keep a watch out for signs including eye redness or respiratory problems. If they experience any symptoms, they should get medical help right away.
Employers are urged to revise occupational health and safety protocols for staff who handle poultry and livestock in order to account for possible H5N1 exposure. In order to identify high-risk tasks, they should also perform hazards evaluations.
Employers can also greatly lower hazards by putting control measures in place, such as separating contaminated animals and maintaining good cleanliness.
To protect against contacting contaminated materials or infected animals, workers should also be outfitted with the proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The spread of H5N1 can be successfully stopped by heeding these suggestions.
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