The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised hospitals to accelerate testing for H5N1 bird flu in patients admitted with the flu. The move comes amid concerns about the growing risk of H5N1 avian influenza transmission, particularly after a second child in San Francisco contracted the virus last week.
According to CDC Principal Deputy Director Nirav Shah, the agency is not changing its guidance due to growing concern over the virus but aims to speed up an already slow system that may become backlogged during a surge in seasonal flu cases. Over 100,000 people have been hospitalized with the flu since October, with projections of more than 200,000 by the end of winter.
As of March, there have been 67 confirmed bird flu cases across 10 states, mostly linked to infected dairy cows or poultry. The CDC says there is a low risk of contracting H5N1 but a moderate pandemic risk due to the virus’s current age.
To address this, hospitals are being urged to test for H5N1 in-house using equipment available on-site. However, many will send bulk samples to public health laboratories instead. The CDC is working with hospitals lacking in-house testing capabilities to connect them with real-time laboratory services.
The new guidance is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to prepare for an H5N1 bird flu pandemic before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Other measures include a national program to test untreated milk and $211 million in funding for emerging infectious diseases.
Source: https://thehill.com/homenews/5089960-cdc-advises-hospitals-speed-testing