A new strain of bird flu has been detected in a Nevada resident, causing concerns about its potential impact on human health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case after a worker at a farm in Churchill County tested positive for the D1.1 strain of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
The patient’s mild illness led to recovery without hospitalization, but health officials are worried about whether dairy cows may be more susceptible to the bird flu, increasing the risk of cow-to-human transmission.
Dr. Andrea Garcia, vice president of science at the American Medical Association, warns that this could mark a new chapter in the outbreak or lead to the bird flu becoming endemic in the US. Meanwhile, infectious disease expert Dr. Michael Osterholm notes that another influenza pandemic is likely and should not be surprised about when it happens.
Although the CDC considers the public health risk low for the general public, those who work with birds, poultry, or cows, or have recreational exposure to them are at higher risk. To minimize this risk, they can avoid touching sick or dead animals, eat cooked food, and cook poultry and eggs to 165˚F internal temperature.
Last month, health officials reported the first US death linked to bird flu. The World Health Organization previously labeled the outbreak a significant public health concern but does not currently list it as a global health emergency.
Source: https://people.com/nevada-resident-infected-with-new-strain-of-bird-flu-8789920