A second human case of bird flu has been confirmed in the United States since the virus was first detected in dairy cattlein late March, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday. The infection of a dairy worker in Michigan expands the outbreak of the H5N1 virus, though the CDC emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low. A Texas dairy worker was confirmed as infected in April.
Michigan and Texas are among nine states to report bird flu in dairy herds. Similar to the Texas case, the patient in Michigan only reported eye symptoms, according to the CDC. Fortunately, the Michigan worker experienced mild symptoms and has recovered, the state’s Department of Health and Human Services reported.
The worker had regular exposure to livestock infected with bird flu, Michigan’s health department stated.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) believes unpasteurized milk is the primary vector for transmitting the virus among cows, although officials are still uncertain about the exact transmission mechanisms.
