CDC Warns of Increased Bird Flu Risk to Human Health: Two Confirmed Cases and Over 350 Monitored in US

Michigan, Michigan, United States United States of America
CDC and partners using multiple surveillance systems to monitor new flu viruses
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns of increased bird flu risk to human health
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus identified in human cases
No evidence of person-to-person spread, but public health officials remain vigilant
Over 350 people monitored due to exposure to infected or potentially infected animals
Sixteen dairy cow herds in nine states have confirmed cases of A(H5N1) virus infection
Two confirmed human cases in Texas and Michigan
CDC Warns of Increased Bird Flu Risk to Human Health: Two Confirmed Cases and Over 350 Monitored in US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing for a potential increased risk to human health from bird flu following an outbreak among dairy cows and two confirmed human cases in the United States. The first case was reported in a farm worker in Texas, while the second case was identified in a Michigan farm worker who had regular exposure to livestock.

As of May 26, more than 350 people have been monitored due to their exposure to infected or potentially infected animals. The CDC recommends avoiding close, long or unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds and other wild or domesticated animals (including cows).

The virus from the human cases is a highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus. The CDC has interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring, and public health investigations of A(H5N1) virus infections in people.

Sixteen dairy cow herds in nine states have confirmed cases of A(H5N1) virus infection. The Michigan case was identified through daily monitoring of farm workers. Farm workers and those working in agriculture are at the highest risk of bird flu.

There is currently no evidence to show that bird flu is spreading from person to person, but it's important for public health officials to remain vigilant and proactive. The CDC continues to work with state partners, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other partners using a One Health approach.

The USDA has announced more support for dairy farms, including those that haven't been affected by H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in cattle. The agency is providing financial support, up to $1,500 per farm, for producers to develop and implement a biosecurity plan. Producers will also receive $100 for each producer to buy and use an in-line sample for their milk system.

Regarding animal testing, the USDA will reimburse producers for up to $2,000 in veterinary costs related to collecting samples for H5N1 testing. The USDA is also helping offset the cost of shipping samples to labs for testing, up to $50 per shipment as many as two times per month for each farm.

The CDC and its partners use multiple surveillance systems to monitor seasonal influenza and other illnesses and have specialized methods to detect and monitor new flu viruses. U.S. health officials are also in talks with messenger RNA vaccine makers about potential bird flu shots for humans.



Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any other strains of bird flu that could potentially pose a threat to human health?
  • How effective are current surveillance systems in detecting and monitoring new flu viruses?
  • What measures are in place to prevent the spread of bird flu from animals to humans?

Sources

99%

  • Unique Points
    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing for the possibility of increased risk to human health from bird flu following an outbreak among dairy cows and two confirmed human cases.
    • >350 people have been monitored as a result of their exposure to infected or potentially infected animals, and at least 39 people with flu-like symptoms have been tested.
    • >CDC recommends avoiding close, long or unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds and other wild or domesticated animals (including cows). People should also avoid unprotected exposures to animal poop, bedding (litter), raw milk or materials that have been touched by, or close to, birds or other animals with suspected or confirmed A(H5N1) virus.
    • >CDC has interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring, and public health investigations of A(H5N1) virus infections in people.
  • Accuracy
    • ]The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is preparing for the possibility of increased risk to human health from bird flu following an outbreak among dairy cows and two confirmed human cases.[
    • There are currently no evidence of person-to-person transmission of bird flu in the US.
    • Both human patients experienced only eye redness as symptoms and have since recovered.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

97%

  • Unique Points
    • CDC confirmed a new human infection with the H5 avian influenza virus in America on May 22nd.
    • Both identified human cases are farm workers who likely got infected through contact with infected animals.
    • No evidence of human-to-human transmission, but public health authorities are on high alert.
    • Half of the national pandemic stockpile of H5N1 vaccine is being readied to deploy.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an appeal to authority and a potential overstatement based on limited evidence. The appeal to authority comes from the mention of America's Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and their actions in response to the second human case of bird flu. The potential overstatement is when the author mentions that H5N1 has pandemic potential because there is no immunity to it in humans, while also acknowledging that there have been around 900 known human infections worldwide with nearly half being fatal. This could be interpreted as an exaggeration of the virus's danger.
    • America’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed a new human infection with the H5 avian influenza virus...
    • Half of the national pandemic stockpile of H5N1 vaccine is being made ready to deploy.
    • H5N1, an avian influenza virus that has now crossed over into numerous bird and some mammalian species, is one of those with pandemic potential because there is no immunity to it in humans.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • >CDC is responding to a multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in dairy cows and other animals in the United States.
    • >There have been two human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection reported in the US, both linked to exposure to infected dairy cows.
    • >63 dairy cow herds in nine states have confirmed cases of A(H5N1) virus infections.
    • >The virus from the human case in Michigan is a highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus from clade 2.3.4.4b that is over 99% identical to the viruses circulating in dairy cows.
    • >CDC recommends avoiding close, long or unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds and other wild or domesticated animals (including cows).
  • Accuracy
    • ]CDC is responding to a multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus in dairy cows and other animals in the United States.[
    • There have been two human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) virus infection reported in the US, both linked to exposure to infected dairy cows.
    • 63 dairy cow herds in nine states have confirmed cases of A(H5N1) virus infections.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

  • Unique Points
    • USDA announced more support for dairy farms, including those not affected by H5N1 avian flu outbreaks
    • Two new H5N1 avian flu outbreaks reported in Idaho dairy herds
    • Four previously reported Michigan outbreaks raise national total to 58 farms across nine states
    • APHIS reported five more H5N1 avian flu outbreaks in Minnesota, including four commercial turkey farms and a layer farm with 1.36 million birds
  • Accuracy
    • ]USDA announced more support for dairy farms, including those not affected by H5N1 avian flu outbreaks[
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

98%

  • Unique Points
    • The latest case was announced Wednesday in a dairy farm worker in Michigan.
    • H5N1 has been spreading among more animal species worldwide since 2020, but its detection in U.S. livestock earlier this year was a twist health officials did not expect.
    • There is currently no evidence that H5N1 is spreading from person to person.
    • The CDC and its partners use multiple surveillance systems to monitor seasonal influenza and other illnesses and have specialized methods to detect and monitor new flu viruses.
    • U.S. health officials are also in talks with messenger RNA vaccine makers about potential bird flu shots for humans.
  • Accuracy
    • ]The latest case was announced Wednesday in a dairy farm worker in Michigan.[
    • A strain of bird flu called H5N1 has been confirmed in dairy cows across nine U.S. states.
    • U.S. health officials are monitoring and preparing to combat bird flu in humans, even as they emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (95%)
    The article contains some instances of appeals to authority and dichotomous depictions, but overall the author's assertions are generally supported by facts and evidence. No fallacies were found that would significantly impact the score.
    • ][The U.S. government] has long stockpiled vaccines and drugs to be used in a possible bird flu pandemic.[/
    • Both of the candidates are already available to manufacturers, according to the CDC.
    • The Food and Drug Administration would need to approve bird flu vaccines before they roll out.
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication