Michigan reported its first human cases. H5N1According to a press release from the , an outbreak of the infectious disease commonly referred to as avian influenza occurred on Wednesday. Michigan Department of Health and Human ServicesThis is only the third human infection detected so far in the United States and the second in an outbreak that has alarmed public health officials, who worry the virus may mutate.
State officials said Michigan’s new cases involve a dairy worker with “mild symptoms” and that the risk to the general population “remains low” at this time.
The first human case of H5N1 in the United States was detected in Colorado in 2022 when a poultry farm worker contracted the virus. The second case in the United States, and the first in this outbreak, occurred in Texas. April 1st When a farm worker is presumed to have been infected by a cow.
Until now, avian influenza had only been transmitted directly from birds to other animals, but the Texas case was the first known example of the virus being transmitted between mammals. The virus has been detected in dozens of herds in nine states, but farm owners are reportedly trying to hide the infection. federal authorities.
News outlet NOTUS recently quoted a Texas dairy farmer saying bird flu is not real. Report to the reportr, “You must be listening to CNN or something. It’s fake news.”
The virus is spreading rapidly in Michigan, with three additional dairy cows confirmed to be infected, according to a report from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. on mondayThe current national outbreak is concerning, but it’s not as if medical experts didn’t foresee it. When cases of avian influenza started to increase in mammals in 2023, the World Health Organization took notice and issued a warning. About the disease.
Michigan officials stressed that they are closely monitoring the situation and staying up to date as it evolves.
“Michigan is leading the way in a rapid public health response, and we have been closely following the situation since influenza A (H5N1) was detected in Michigan’s poultry and dairy herds.” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the province’s medical director. statement Published online. “Farmworkers who have been in contact with infected animals are being asked to report even mild symptoms so they can be tested for the virus.”
The important thing to remember is that the H5N1 virus has not yet jumped between humans, and with any luck, that will remain the case.
“Currently, the health risk to the general public remains low. This virus is being closely monitored and there are currently no signs of sustained human-to-human transmission,” Baghdasarian said. .
Tests on milk from infected cows have shown that avian influenza has been inactivated by pasteurization, but raw milk may still contain active virus. started drinking raw milk There is a recent misconception that it gives you “immunity” to the virus. Don’t drink raw milk to protect yourself from bird blues. That’s not how immunity works. And now is the worst time to try that kind of girlfriend DIY experiment.
