Third Human Case of Bird Flu Reported in the US: Michigan Dairy Farm Worker Contracts Virus, Shows Respiratory Symptoms

Michigan, Michigan, United States United States of America
All three cases linked to contact with infected dairy cattle
Bird flu first detected in wild birds across all 50 states in March 2024 and has since spread to dairy cattle
CDC adding about 5 million doses of bird flu vaccine to national stockpile
Commercial milk supply remains safe but health officials recommend avoiding raw milk until further notice
H5N1 virus highly pathogenic and can spread from birds to humans through direct contact with contaminated environments or infected animals
Health officials urging frontline dairy workers to wear personal protective equipment and get regular flu shot
Latest patient's symptoms resolved after being treated with antiviral medication oseltamivir
Low risk for general public to contract bird flu as long as they do not have direct contact with infected animals or their environments
Michigan dairy farm worker contracted virus
Patient showed respiratory symptoms: cough, congestion, sore throat
Third human case of bird flu reported in the US
USDA announced $800 million program to support testing, surveillance, and development of livestock vaccines
Third Human Case of Bird Flu Reported in the US: Michigan Dairy Farm Worker Contracts Virus, Shows Respiratory Symptoms

Bird Flu Outbreak in the US: Third Human Case Reported

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a third human case of bird flu in the United States on May 31, 2024. The latest patient is a dairy farm worker from Michigan who was not wearing personal protective equipment despite health authorities' recommendations.

The first two cases were reported in Texas and Michigan earlier this year, with both patients experiencing eye symptoms such as conjunctivitis. However, the third case marks a shift as the patient also showed respiratory symptoms including cough, congestion, and sore throat.

According to the CDC, all three cases are linked to contact with infected dairy cattle. The H5N1 virus is highly pathogenic and can spread from birds to humans through direct contact with contaminated environments or infected animals.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) stated that the latest patient's symptoms resolved after being treated with antiviral medication oseltamivir. The CDC added that there is a low risk for the general public to contract bird flu as long as they do not have direct contact with infected animals or their environments.

The USDA has announced an ambitious $800 million program to support testing, surveillance, and the development of livestock vaccines. Health officials are urging frontline dairy workers to wear personal protective equipment and get the regular flu shot to prevent contracting two illnesses at once.

Bird flu was first detected in wild birds across all 50 states in March 2024, and it has since spread to dairy cattle. The commercial milk supply remains safe, but health officials recommend avoiding raw milk until further notice.

The CDC is adding about 5 million doses of bird flu vaccine to the national stockpile in case it becomes necessary.

Sources:

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS)


Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • Are there any reports of bird flu spreading through the air or water?
  • Is it confirmed that all three cases are linked to contact with infected dairy cattle?
  • What is the exact strain of bird flu that caused these human cases?

Sources

96%

  • Unique Points
    • Another farm worker in Michigan tested positive for bird flu, making it the third case in the US this year.
    • The latest patient showed symptoms of cough, congestion and sore throat.
    • Two previous patients had eye infections.
  • Accuracy
    • The new H5N1 variant does not appear to be transmissible among people.
    • Testing is crucial for identifying and controlling infectious diseases, yet our response to H5N1 has been inadequate in this area.
  • 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

94%

  • Unique Points
    • The third human case of H5N1 bird flu was reported in a Michigan farmworker with respiratory symptoms.
    • Testing is crucial for identifying and controlling infectious diseases, yet our response to H5N1 has been inadequate in this area.
  • Accuracy
    • The latest patient showed symptoms of cough, congestion and sore throat.
    • The emergence of respiratory symptoms indicates a potential shift in how the virus affects humans and increases its spreadability.
  • 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

96%

  • Unique Points
    • Third human case of bird flu reported in US
    • Case is a dairy farm worker from Michigan
    • Person was not wearing personal protective equipment despite health authorities recommendation for close contact with dairy herds
  • Accuracy
    • CDC confirmed all three cases were spread from cows to humans, not human-to-human
    • Person was treated with antiviral medicine oseltamivir and isolated at home, symptoms resolved
  • 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

94%

  • Unique Points
    • A third person in the US has tested positive for H5 bird flu in connection to an ongoing outbreak in dairy cattle, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
    • The latest patient showed symptoms of cough, congestion and sore throat.
    • None of the three people had contact with each other, but all worked with cattle.
  • Accuracy
    • This latest case is different because the patient also had upper respiratory symptoms including sore throat, cough and congestion.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The article contains a few instances of inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It does not contain any formal or informal fallacies that would significantly impact the score.
    • This time, in addition to some of the eye symptoms seen with previous H5N1 cases, the farmworker reported a cough and other respiratory symptoms that are more typical of human influenza infections
    • Experts said that the addition of respiratory symptoms doesn't necessarily indicate that the virus has become more dangerous or that it may transmit more easily from person to person.
    • The CDC confirmed Wednesday night that the person had an H5 influenza infection and forwarded the results to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
  • 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

93%

  • Unique Points
    • A third farmworker has been diagnosed with bird flu in the United States, marking the third case since March.
    • This latest case is different because the patient also had upper respiratory symptoms including sore throat, cough and congestion.
  • Accuracy
    • The latest case is different because the patient also had upper respiratory symptoms including sore throat, cough and congestion.
    • Testing is crucial for identifying and controlling infectious diseases, yet our response to H5N1 has been inadequate in this area.
  • Deception (80%)
    The article reports on the detection of a third human case of bird flu in the US, with this case being different from previous ones due to the patient having upper respiratory symptoms. The author does not make any editorializing or pontification statements and there is no emotional manipulation or sensationalism present. However, there are instances of selective reporting as only details that support the author's position (the presence of respiratory symptoms) are reported, while other details (such as the fact that none of the cases are connected) are not mentioned. The article also refers to studies but does not provide links to them or disclose whether they have been peer-reviewed.
    • This latest case is different, however, because the patient also had upper respiratory symptoms...
    • During a media briefing Thursday, Dr. Nirav Shah, the CDC’s principal deputy director, said there’s no indication yet that the virus is spreading from person to person, although the risk does increase with respiratory symptoms.
  • 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