On April 1, 2024, the World Health Organization announced laboratory-confirmed human infection with H5N1 avian influenza virus by the National Liaison Center for International Health Regulations in the United States..
In a statement today, the organization said the patient's symptoms appeared on March 27 and that he had a history of exposure to the virus in cattle..
The organization added that the virus spread from a cow to a worker at a cattle ranch in Texas, where infections have been reported in 29 herds in 8 different US states since last March..
The organization explained that the bird flu viruses identified in cows and humans do not show a disproportionate effect on mammals, but farm workers and those in close contact with cows should take the necessary precautions in case the animals become infected..
Dr. Wen-Sheng Chang, head of the World Health Organization's Global Influenza Program, confirmed that the human case in Texas was the first case in which a person contracted bird flu from a cow.
He pointed out that bird-to-cattle, cow-to-cattle and cow-to-bird transmission have been recorded during the current outbreaks, indicating that the virus may have found other routes of transmission than previously thought.
While this may seem worrisome, the organization noted that at the same time it demonstrates the power of disease surveillance and allows detection of the virus when its risks are assessed..
According to the World Health Organization, human infection with the H5N1 virus, or bird flu, is rare and only 900 infections have been reported since 2003. severe.
