CDC recommends faster ‘subtyping’ to catch bird flu cases

As cases of H5N1, also known as avian flu or bird flu, continue to surface across the U.S., safety precautions are ramping up. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Thursday its recommendation to test hospitalized influenza A patients more quickly and thoroughly to distinguish between seasonal flu and bird flu.

The accelerated “subtyping” of flu A in hospitalized patients is in response to “sporadic human infections” of avian flu, the CDC wrote in a press release.

According to the CDC, one state leads the country in human bird flu cases with nearly 40 confirmed cases. The agency is recommending a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens among hospitalized patients and increasing efforts at clinical laboratories to identify non-seasonal influenza.

“Clinicians and laboratorians are reminded to test for influenza in patients with suspected influenza and, going forward, to now expedite the subtyping of influenza A-positive specimens from hospitalized patients, particularly those in an intensive care unit (ICU),” the CDC stated.

The goal is to prevent delays in identifying bird flu infections and promote better patient care, timely infection control, and case investigation. These delays are more likely to occur during the flu season due to high patient volumes.

Health care systems are expected to use tests that identify seasonal influenza A as a subtype. If a test comes back positive for influenza A but negative for seasonal influenza, that is an indicator that the detected virus might be novel.

“Subtyping is especially important in people who have a history of relevant exposure to wild or domestic animals infected or possibly infected with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses,” the CDC advised.

In an HHS media briefing, the CDC confirmed that the public risk for avian flu is still low but is being closely monitored. The agency spokesperson clarified that this accelerated testing is not due to bird flu cases being missed, as those hospitalized with influenza A probably have seasonal influenza.

Niels Riedemann, MD, PhD, CEO and founder of InflaRx, a German biotechnology company, emphasized the importance of understanding these subtypes in better preparing for any potential outbreak of concerning variants.

“It will also be important to foster research and development of therapeutics, including those addressing the patient’s inflammatory immune response to these types of viruses – as this has been shown to cause organ injury and death during the COVID pandemic,” he told Fox News Digital.

Since 2022, there have been a total of 67 human cases of bird flu, with 66 of those occurring in 2024. The CDC recommends that people avoid direct contact with wild birds or other animals that are suspected to be infected. Those who work closely with animals should also wear the proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

Overall, the CDC’s recommendations aim to enhance the detection and management of avian flu cases in the U.S., as well as to prevent the spread of the virus. Stay informed and stay safe during this ongoing public health concern.