Washington, Apr 2 A US citizen tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, known as “bird flu,” the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said in a statement on Monday.
“A person in the United States has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5N1) virus (‘H5N1 bird flu’),” the statement said.
According to the statement, the patient, who had direct contact with dairy cattle in Texas and was suspected to be infected with bird flu, experienced only eye redness. The individual is currently in recovery, self-isolating, and undergoing antiviral treatment.
“This infection does not change the H5N1 bird flu human health risk assessment for the US general public, which the CDC considers to be low. However, people with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals (including livestock) or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals are at greater risk of infection,” the statement said.
The statement indicated that the CDC is monitoring and testing individuals who may have been exposed to infected or potentially infected birds or animals and are exhibiting symptoms.
Furthermore, the statement added that this is the second case of a person testing positive for influenza A (H5N1) in the US, following a 2022 case in Colorado.
