Abdelrahman
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a third hospitalization related to avian influenza, as confirmed by Wyoming’s health authorities. A woman requiring treatment was admitted to a facility in Colorado, exhibiting symptoms consistent with the flu and possessing pre-existing health conditions that increase susceptibility to infections.
Authorities have indicated that the woman likely contracted the H5N1 virus through direct contact with an infected poultry flock at her residence. Dr. Alexia Harrist, the state health officer for Wyoming, stated, “Our team is actively engaging with individuals who interacted with both the flock and the patient, and we will continue collaborating with local and national experts to keep a meticulous watch on this situation in Wyoming.”
Concerns arise about how many individuals in Colorado may have been exposed during the woman’s travels there. However, a representative from Colorado’s health department has not yet provided additional information.
The patient resides in Platte County, Wyoming, where the Wyoming Livestock Board recently identified three backyard flocks infected with the H5N1 virus, including those in Platte County. According to state veterinarian Hallie Hasel, these flocks were affected by the B3.13 variant. It remains uncertain whether the hospitalized woman is infected with this specific strain.
The CDC typically handles the monitoring and sequencing of concerning bird flu cases, but a spokesperson was unavailable for immediate comment. Health experts had initially believed that the B3.13 strain would be less severe for humans, contrasting this with the D1.1 strain that caused a bird flu-related death in Louisiana last month and resulted in the hospitalization of a child in Canada last year.
The first reported U.S. hospitalization linked to bird flu occurred in Missouri last year, involving the B3.13 strain, although officials noted that the individual was likely hospitalized for unrelated issues and only tested positive incidentally.
This recent hospitalization follows confirmed bird flu cases in Nevada and Ohio. The patient in Nevada did not require hospitalization and only presented mild symptoms, while Ohio’s health department has yet to clarify the status of their bird flu case despite multiple inquiries.
Additionally, health officials announced a new recall of raw pet food, which has been associated with the spread of the virus affecting cats in Oregon, as well as a second instance of the D1.1 virus spilling over from birds to cows in Arizona.
Prior to Friday’s case, the CDC had confirmed a total of 68 human cases of bird flu, primarily associated with direct contact with sick animals, though three cases remain without an identified source.
The increase in bird flu cases coincides with a rise in seasonal influenza, reaching unprecedented levels in hospitals nationwide, surpassing those seen during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. Current data indicates that typical seasonal flu variants are responsible for this surge, not a transmission of the bird flu strain among humans.
On Friday, the CDC reported that these seasonal strains have caused influenza rates to elevate to some of the highest levels recorded in years, leading to the first declaration of a “high severity” season since 2017.
