In a significant development, the Central Nevada Health District has confirmed the first case of bird flu in a human in Nevada. The infected individual is a farm worker who had direct contact with dairy cattle carrying the virus. This marks a new chapter in the ongoing outbreak of the H5N1 virus across the United States, with close to 70 reported cases primarily among individuals working in agricultural settings since April.
The impact of the virus is evident not only in human health but also in the agricultural sector, as infected cattle have experienced a decrease in milk production, while egg prices have soared due to the loss of millions of laying hens. The affected farm worker in Nevada is currently in recovery from symptoms of conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye, according to the Central Nevada Health District.
Despite these concerning developments, health authorities reassure the public that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the bird flu virus at this time. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintain that the risk of bird flu spreading to the general population remains low.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recently disclosed the presence of a second strain of bird flu in dairy cattle in Nevada, identified as strain D1.1. This discovery has heightened concerns surrounding the outbreak, as the D1.1 genotype was prevalent among wild birds during the previous fall and winter seasons and has also been detected in poultry.
Tragically, one individual in Louisiana has succumbed to the D1.1 genotype after being hospitalized. These developments underscore the urgent need for continued vigilance and collaborative efforts to contain and mitigate the spread of the bird flu virus.
Stay tuned for further updates on this evolving situation. [Reporting by Tom Polansek; Editing by Chris Reese and Nick Zieminski]
