A Michigan dairy worker and a Texas dairy farm worker have been diagnosed with bird flu, marking the second and third human cases in the US since February 2022. Both individuals had been in contact with infected dairy cows.
The Michigan worker experienced mild eye symptoms but has recovered. An eye swab tested positive for bird flu, indicating an eye infection. The Texas worker also reported only eye symptoms and has also recovered.
Since February 2022, at least 9,300 people have been monitored for exposure to infected poultry and another 300 for cattle exposure. Three human cases of bird flu have been reported in the US during this period.
Farmworkers who come into contact with infected animals are at higher risk and should be offered protective equipment, especially for their eyes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises that the public health risk remains low.
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza A(H5N1), has been spreading among more animal species including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even seals and porpoises in scores of countries since 2020. The detection in U.S. livestock earlier this year was an unexpected twist that sparked questions about food safety.
The CDC's Dr. Nirav Shah praised Michigan officials for actively monitoring farmworkers, saying their efforts helped catch the infection early and prevent further spread.
There is no sign to date that the virus is causing flu-like illness or spreading among people. The virus has been found in high levels in the raw milk of infected cows, but government officials say pasteurized products sold in grocery stores are safe because heat treatment has been confirmed to kill the virus.
The CDC and state and local health departments monitor people exposed to infected birds, poultry or other animals. The agency uses its flu surveillance systems to monitor for H5N1 activity in people, but there are no indicators of unusual influenza activity in the population.
