Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog on December 23, 2024
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just announced the first severe bird flu case in humans. This transmission did not occur from a commercial operation. This illness was linked to a backyard poultry flock.
Previously, illnesses have been mild and primarily associated with commercial poultry or dairy cow farms. However, this recent case may indicate that the virus has changed to be an even more serious threat to human health.
Here’s what we know about the first severe bird flu case in humans and what you can do to help protect yourself. Especially if you have backyard poultry.
The CDC reports that a patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized due to a severe case of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. More commonly known as bird flu.
According to the CDC, “This marks the first instance of severe illness linked to the virus in the United States.”
Since April 2024, there have been 61 confirmed cases of H5 bird flu reported in the United States. However, previous cases have been mild, with primary symptoms being fatigue, tiredness, and conjunctivitis (eye infection).
These cases have also primarily been associated with commercial operations. Situations in which a farm worker is exposed to significantly more animals than the general population on a near-daily basis.
Based on interview data, the investigation has found that the patient was exposed to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks. Making it the first case of H5N1 bird flu linked to this type of exposure.
While this is shocking to the general public, the CDC explains that “a sporadic case of severe H5N1 bird flu illness in a person is not unexpected.” In fact, other countries have also associated severe human illness, some resulting in death, to bird flu.
The patient’s sample was analyzed for genetic information. This information produces data that scientists and investigators can use to help trace back the strain of bird flu to other samples.
In this case, the identified “D1.1 genotype” matches recently detected samples from wild birds and poultry collected in the United States as well as recent human cases in British Columbia, Canada, and Washington States.
A similar H5N1 bird flu strain, “B3.13 genotype” has been detected in dairy cows, sporadic human cases across multiple states, and a few poultry outbreaks in the U.S.
Additional genetic testing is being performed on this patient’s sample to help reveal what has changed about the virus to make it the first severe bird flu case in the U.S.
In addition to existing flu surveillance systems, the CDC has been keeping an eye on the bird flu situation. As of December 18, 2024, “CDC influenza (flu) surveillance systems show no indicators of unusual influenza activity in people, including avian influenza A(H5).
National flu surveillance activities have tested over 67,000 specimens since February 25, 2024. Through this surveillance program, the agency has detected three human cases.
In addition to national flu surveillance, additional targeted H5 surveillance activities have been conducted since March 24, 2024. These include samples obtained from exposure to infected animals. Over 500 people were tested for H5 bird flu after exposure. Through this targeted testing, 58 people were identified with the virus.
So far, all of these cases have had some kind of contact with animals. But how do animals shed the virus to spread illness?
When it comes to humans, flu is spread through respiratory excretions. Sneezing, coughing, mucus, etc.
It isn’t all that different in animals.
Birds shed influenza A virus through saliva, mucous, and feces. Other animals, such as dairy cows, also spread the virus through those respiratory secretions. But also, other bodily fluids. For example, bird flu has been identified in unpasteurized (raw) milk.
To date the CDC indicates that there has been no person-to-person spread of H5 bird flu. While this severe bird flu case appears to be different than previous cases, at this time, it “does not change CDC’s overall assessment of the immediate risk to the public’s health from H5N1 bird flu, which remains low.”
So how can you protect yourself and your family from being the next severe bird flu case in humans? There are, in fact, a few simple things you can do.
Healthy wild birds usually don’t want interaction with people. However, you should still keep some distance and avoid direct contact with them.
If you find a wild or domestic bird that appears ill or has died, do not touch it. Report it to your local health department or wildlife control.
Unpasteurized milk has not undergone specific heat treatment that is designed to kill lurking pathogens. While most people think of Listeria, E. coli, or Campylobacter when it comes to raw milk, bird flu has also been found in those samples.
Avoid raw milk and products made with raw milk (such as cheese).
When cooking poultry like chicken, duck, or other foul, be sure to cook meat to a safe internal temperature. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) indicates that both ground turkey and whole meat products should be cooked until a food thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat reads at least 165° F.
The seasonal flu vaccine will not prevent bird flu. But the CDC recommends getting it to reduce the risk of co-infection with seasonal flu. A complication that can lead to another severe bird flu case in humans.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “CDC Announces First Severe Bird Flu Case in Humans, Linked to Backyard Poultry,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)