Cases of H5N1, also known as avian flu or bird flu, continue to surface in the US. In response, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recommended faster testing for hospitalized influenza A patients to distinguish between seasonal flu and bird flu.
The CDC’s accelerated “subtyping” of flu A in hospitalized patients aims to prevent delays in identifying bird flu infections. This new approach is necessary due to the high volume of patients during flu season, which can lead to delays in case investigation and infection control.
To achieve this goal, healthcare systems will use tests that identify seasonal influenza A as a subtype. If a test comes back positive for influenza A but negative for seasonal influenza, it may indicate that the detected virus is novel – or related to bird flu.
The CDC emphasizes that the public risk of avian flu remains low, but is being closely monitored. The agency recommends avoiding direct contact with wild birds or other animals suspected to be infected and wearing proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for those who work closely with animals.
According to Neil Riedemann, CEO of InflaRx, a German biotechnology company, understanding bird flu subtypes is crucial in preparing for potential outbreaks. He emphasizes the importance of research and development of therapeutics addressing patient inflammatory immune responses to these viruses, which can cause organ injury and death during pandemics like COVID-19.
Source: https://www.foxnews.com/health/bird-flu-spreads-cdc-recommends-faster-subtyping-catch-more-cases