NEW YORK (AP) — A dairy worker in Nevada was infected with a new type of bird flu that’s distinct from the strain spreading in U.S. herds since last year, as stated by federal health officials on Monday. The illness appeared mild, characterized mainly by eye redness and irritation, which aligns with most bird flu cases linked to dairy cows. The affected individual did not require hospitalization and has since fully recovered, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This newer strain had been previously identified in over a dozen individuals exposed to poultry; however, this marks the first instance of an infection being traced back to a cow. The Nevada dairy worker was exposed on a farm in Churchill County, situated in the west-central region of the state, as reported by state health authorities.
CDC officials have stressed that there is no evidence indicating the virus has spread from this particular individual to others. The agency continues to assert that the virus presents a low risk to the general public.
The bird flu currently circulating among animals, and occasionally affecting humans, is scientifically recognized as Type A H5N1 influenza. Nevertheless, there are various strains within this category. One such version, denoted as B3.13, was confirmed in March after making its way to cattle towards the end of 2023, according to scientists. This strain has impacted 962 cattle herds across 16 states, with the vast majority of cases reported in California.
The newer variant, known as D1.1, was identified in Nevada cattle on January 31. This strain was detected in milk samples collected as part of a surveillance program initiated in December. The discovery signifies that distinct forms of the virus have crossed over from wild birds to cattle on at least two separate occasions, which raises concerns about broader transmission and the challenge of controlling infections within animal populations and among individuals who come into contact with them.
In the past year, the CDC data indicates that at least 68 individuals in the U.S. have been reported as infected with bird flu. The vast majority of these cases have been linked to close interactions with cows or poultry, particularly the B3.13 version. While initial reports suggested that the D1.1 variant was only present in cases in Louisiana and Washington state, the CDC revealed on Monday that available data suggests D1.1 likely infected a total of 15 people across five states — Iowa, Louisiana, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin — all tied to poultry exposure.
The D1.1 strain of the virus has been associated with the first U.S. death attributed to bird flu and a severe illness in Canada. A fatality in Louisiana occurred in January following severe respiratory symptoms developing after contact with wild and backyard birds. In British Columbia, a teenage girl was hospitalized for several months due to a virus traced back to poultry.
While the overall risk to the general public remains low, the CDC emphasizes that bird flu poses
