A 13-year-old Canadian girl fought for her life after contracting a severe bird flu infection from an unknown source, sparking concerns over the diagnosis of the H5N1 virus. The girl’s symptoms began with pink eye and turned into fever and coughing before she was put on life support with an ECMO machine.
Researchers discovered that she had a high viral load of a novel influenza A infection, which is caused by the H5N1 virus. However, distinguishing between H5N1 and other types of flu A can be challenging due to limited antigen testing capabilities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bird flu is a disease caused by the influenza A virus, but recent data shows that seasonal influenza A is rising across the U.S., particularly in the H1N1 and H3N2 strains. This raises concerns about the potential for more pathogenic and deadly viruses.
The CDC reports that 66 humans have been infected with H5N1 in the last year, mostly from contact with infected poultry or dairy herds. However, two sources of infected cases remain unclear. The first bird flu death in the U.S. was reported recently, and researchers are monitoring testing and genomic surveillance to detect any potential mutations.
Experts emphasize the importance of continued wastewater surveillance, bulk testing of dairy milk, and finding trusted sources of information to stay informed about the situation. Meanwhile, individuals can protect themselves by avoiding raw milk, touching sick birds or animals, and staying informed through reputable sources.
Source: https://www.salon.com/2025/01/13/is-it-seasonal-influenza-or-bird-flu-heres-how-to-tell