Nevada dairy worker recovers after infection with new strain of bird flu: CDC

A dairy worker in Nevada who contracted a new strain of bird flu has successfully recovered, according to federal health officials. The individual experienced mild symptoms, mainly eye redness and irritation, which are typical of bird flu cases associated with dairy cows. Fortunately, the person did not require hospitalization and has fully recovered, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This particular strain of bird flu had been previously identified in a small number of individuals who had been exposed to poultry. However, this is the first time the infection has been linked to a cow. The dairy worker was exposed to the virus at a farm in Churchill County, located in the west central part of Nevada, as confirmed by state health officials.

Despite this case, the CDC reassures the public that there is no evidence of the virus spreading from the infected individual to others. The agency maintains that the risk of transmission to the general population remains low.

The bird flu strain currently affecting animals and a small number of people is classified as Type A H5N1 influenza. However, there are different variants of this virus. One of the newer strains, identified as B3.13, emerged in March and has since infected nearly 1,000 cattle herds across 16 states, with the majority of cases reported in California.

In contrast, another strain known as D1.1 was detected in Nevada cattle in January. This particular strain was discovered in milk samples collected as part of a monitoring program initiated in December.

The emergence of distinct strains of bird flu in cattle raises concerns about the potential for wider spread and the challenges associated with controlling infections in both animals and humans who come into contact with them. Of the 68 reported cases of bird flu in the U.S. over the past year, the majority were linked to close contact with cows or poultry.

Most cases involved the B3.13 variant, while the D1.1 strain had previously been identified in cases in Louisiana and Washington state. However, recent data suggests that D1.1 may have infected a total of 15 individuals across five states last year, including Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, all of whom had contact with poultry.

The D1.1 strain has been associated with the first U.S. death attributed to bird flu and a severe illness in Canada. In Louisiana, a person passed away in January after experiencing severe respiratory symptoms following exposure to wild and backyard birds. Additionally, a teenage girl in British Columbia was hospitalized for an extended period due to a virus linked to poultry.

While the overall risk to the general public remains low, the CDC emphasizes that individuals with close or prolonged contact with infected animals should take precautions, such as wearing protective gear and implementing other safety measures to prevent the spread of bird flu.