The first case of bird flu in a person confirmed, although he had no contact with animals

American health officials have confirmed a case of bird flu in a person who has not been shown to have been in direct contact with animals. The Missouri patient was treated at a hospital and has since recovered, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. He informed about it on Saturday server BBC News.

According to the CDC, this is the 14th human case of bird flu in the US in 2024 and the first without known contact with infected animals. The agency said that based on current data, the risk to the general public remains low.

Bird flu is a viral disease that primarily affects birds and other animals. Human infection is rare. Previous cases in the U.S. have been linked to contact with infected poultry or livestock, but the Missouri patient represents “the first case of H5 without known occupational contact with sick or infected animals,” the CDC said in a statement Friday.

The Missouri case was detected as part of routine flu season surveillance. The patient also had other previous health problems and was receiving anti-influenza medication.

Bird flu is increasingly common among cows in the US this year. The outbreak was first reported in March, and by Sept. 3, cattle in 14 states were affected, according to the CDC. While no outbreaks of bird flu have been reported in cattle in Missouri, it has been reported in poultry this year and in wild birds in the past, health officials said.

In March 2024, US health officials discovered a case of bird flu in a human, which was detected after contact with dairy cows that were likely infected.

Bird flu was first detected in China in the 1990s and has since spread to all continents, including Antarctica. World health officials believe the current risk to humans is low, but have been actively monitoring the disease for several years.

The disease has affected wildlife around the world, infecting various animal species such as sea lions, seals and bears.