CDC announces third H5 Avian Influenza case in dairy worker
A second human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5) virus infection has been identified in the state of Michigan. This is the third human case associated with an ongoing multistate outbreak of A(H5N1) in U.S. dairy cows. None of the three cases are associated with the others. As with the previous two cases (one in Texas, one in Michigan), the person is a dairy farm worker with exposure to infected cows, making this another instance of probable cow-to-person spread. This is the first human case of H5 in the United States to report more typical symptoms of acute respiratory illness associated with influenza virus infection, including A(H5N1) viruses. This development underscores the importance of recommended precautions in people with exposure to infected or potentially infected animals.
The patient reported upper respiratory tract symptoms including cough without fever, and eye discomfort with watery discharge. No other workers at the same farm have reported symptoms, and all staff are being monitored. Specimens were collected from the patient; one of which was positive for influenza A(H5).
