The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring “red flags” related to bird flu and whether the disease may develop into a pandemic, a report said.
The last numbers show 66 Confirmed human cases Of bird flu in the US CDC takes leave and will resume updates on human cases on January 3.
“Identifying epidemiologically linked clusters of human cases of influenza A (H5N1) may indicate that the virus is more capable of spreading among humans,” a CDC spokesperson said. He told Newsweek. “The CDC is looking for genetic changes in circulating viruses that indicate they could be better transmitted between humans.”
Red flags the CDC is monitoring are outbreaks that are spreading from person to person and evidence of the virus mutating, Newsweek reported.
The bird flu outbreak expands, and more Michigan poultry facilities are exposed to the virus
This undated electron micrograph provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows two influenza A (H5N1) viruses, a type of avian influenza virus. (Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC via AP, File)
Last week, the CDC announced that a patient in Louisiana had been hospitalized with the disease Severe bird flu disease A mutated version of the virus has been found. A CDC spokesperson told Newsweek that this case falls into the red flag category.
“The analysis identified low-frequency mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of a sequenced sample from the patient, which were not found in the virus sequences from poultry samples collected from the patient’s property, suggesting that the changes appeared in the patient after infection,” the CDC said. Advertisement on its website.
A patient with bird flu had viral mutations, raising concern about its spread between humans
A recall alert is displayed on a refrigerator at a pet store in Tigard, Oregon, on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, after Northwest Naturals announced a voluntary recall Tuesday of one batch of Feline Turkey Recipe 2-pound raw pet food. Frozen. After she tested positive for the virus. (Jenny Kane)
“While these low-frequency changes are rare in humans, they have been reported in previous cases of A(H5N1) in other countries and most often during Severe illnessThe agency added.
The CDC did not immediately respond to a Fox News digital inquiry, but previously confirmed that there was no known transmission of the virus from the Louisiana patient to anyone else.
A cow is clipped by an exhibitor at the State Fair in West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S., August 9, 2024. Dairy farmers were taking precautions to test for bird flu while showing cattle during the fair. (Reuters/Jim Vondruska)
Avian influenza, also known as HPAI, is a disease Highly contagious virus It can spread in various ways from one herd to another through contact with infected animals, through equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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State officials confirmed swarms in two additional Michigan counties on Monday.
FILE PHOTO: A person touches a test tube labeled “bird flu” in this illustration, January 14, 2023. (Reuters/Dado Rovik/Illustration/archive photo)
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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, The public health risks associated with avian influenza remain low. No birds or bird products infected with HPAI will enter the commercial food chain.
Fox News' Alexandra Koch, Melissa Ruddy and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
