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US Reports First Severe Human Case of Bird Flu amid California Emergency

On Wednesday, the United States confirmed its first severe human case of bird flu in Louisiana, coinciding with California’s declaration of a state of emergency due to the rising number of cases.

The individual in Louisiana was hospitalized in critical condition, reportedly after coming into contact with a backyard flock that is believed to be infected. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the case on December 13, marking it as the first instance in the nation where H5N1 avian flu resulted in significant illness in a person.

“This represents the first documented human case of H5N1 linked to exposure to a backyard flock in the U.S.,” the CDC noted in an official statement.

In response to the situation, California’s Governor Gavin Newsom announced a state of emergency on the same day, characterizing the measure as a preemptive strategy to manage the potential spread of the virus.

As of now, there have been no reports of the virus spreading from person to person in California, with most identified cases involving contact with infected birds or livestock.

“This proclamation is a focused initiative to ensure that our government can act swiftly and efficiently to mitigate this outbreak. We are bolstering California’s extensive testing and monitoring system—the largest in the country—to safeguard public health and assist our agricultural sector,” Newsom stated. “Though the current risk to the public remains low, we are committed to taking every necessary measure to contain the virus.”

Since April, there have been 61 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu across the U.S. Outbreaks of the virus have also been documented among dairy cattle in 16 states, with its initial appearance in Texas and Kansas reported back in March.

The recent case in Louisiana underscores the continuous spread of this lethal strain of avian influenza. Current genomic analysis indicates that the strain is of the D1.1 genotype, which has been linked to infections detected in both wild birds and poultry throughout the U.S., as well as cases seen in British Columbia.

International Context and Public Health

On November 3, the Public Health Agency of Canada identified a teenager who became infected with avian influenza (H5N1), representing the first domestically acquired case in Canada. As of late November, the adolescent remains critically ill.

Despite concerns raised by these cases, both the CDC and Canadian health officials assert that the overall risk posed by H5N1 to the general public remains low. In Canada, health authorities have indicated a similar low risk status. Current outbreaks have predominantly affected dairy farms in various U.S. states, with no confirmed cases in Canadian dairy farms to date.

Human-to-human transmission of the H5N1 strain is exceedingly rare, with no cases indicative of sustained transmission among people. Most cases reported globally have stemmed from direct interactions with infected birds or livestock.

— With files from the Canadian Press and Reuters

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globalnews.ca