So far, 887 infections in humans and 463 deaths have been detected, presenting a fatality rate of 52 percent.
Uncertainty grows in USA faced with the possibility of a contagion between people due to avian flu. And the country is investigating until seven cases of people who were in contact with the first patient who was infected with H5N1 bird flu without having been in contact with animals. Although, for the moment, It has not been confirmed whether any of these people are infected Due to the virus, all seven had symptoms.
A relative of the infected person and two health workersalready recovered, suffered symptoms after having been in person with the ‘Missouri patient’, they were tested but the presence of the virus could not be confirmed. Four other toiletswithout a test performed, also had symptoms, according to the data collected by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the federal authority regarding epidemics. Nevertheless, A total of 94 healthcare workers were in contact with the infected patient.without a mask, so the probability of H5N1 bird flu being transmitted between people is considered low.
How is bird flu spread? According to the information collected by El País, the H5N1 variant of the virus is capable of infecting birds and mammals. Humans become infected through close contact with an infected animal.for example, working on farms or consuming raw cow’s milk.
The current bird flu crisis began in 1996 and has since forced the slaughter of 400 million poultry. The highly pathogenic variant 2.3.4.4b has affected mammalsboth wild and domestic, causing great mortality, and has spread to almost all continents. So far, 887 infections in humans and 463 deaths have been detected, presenting a 52 percent case fatality. Most of these cases involved people who had had close contact with an infected animal. Since In 2022, the new highly pathogenic H5N1 variant emergedthe cases in people registered in the United States have been mild and without chains of contagion.
Uncertainty in detecting cases of avian flu
The CDC is responsible for conducting blood tests for antibodies against hemagglutinin H5one of the surface proteins of the virus that allows it to bind to human cells and trigger an infection. After the case of the ‘Missouri patient’, The entity has not yet published any results of serological tests. of his close contacts.
The slowness and The lack of information is worrying researchers and experts from the country, who consider it urgent to clarify the possible chain of infections. “These cases show the need to take this crisis more seriously,” he explained to the Reuters agency. Amesh Adaljainfectious disease specialist at the Johns Hopkins Health and Safety Center: “It is essential to obtain the results of antibody tests now to evaluate the risk of transmission between humans. This trickle of information is unacceptable.; “The state should ask for federal help now.”
For her part, the virologist Angela Rasmussenfrom the University of Saskatchewan in Canada, has noted in X: “It is important to remember that we still have many cases of covid and other respiratory viruses, this may not be H5N1. The only way to know is to do serological tests, so you have to hurry up and do them.“.
First case of avian flu without animal contact
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed at the beginning of September the first H5N1 bird flu infection in a Missouri citizen who had allegedly not been exposed to animals. “This is the 14th human case reported in the United States during 2024 and the first without known exposure to sick or infected animals,” the CDC reported.
According to the data that was revealed at the time, the patient, who had no previous illnesses, was hospitalized on August 22 after presenting with symptoms such as chest pain, vomiting and diarrhea. After receiving antiviral treatment, he recovered and was discharged, as reported by the CDC and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
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