The number of bird flu infections in the U.S. has increased to at least 31, according to federal health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that five symptomatic health workers in Missouri, who cared for a hospitalized patient, tested negative for the virus, indicating no human-to-human transmission.
Despite these findings, concerns remain about a household contact of the initial patient, who showed mixed results in blood tests. This individual had antibodies for the H5N1 virus, suggesting prior exposure or infection, but did not meet the criteria set by the World Health Organization to be classified as a confirmed case.
Currently, confirmed cases of bird flu have been reported in several states, including Texas, California, Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington.
Most of the infected individuals have experienced mild symptoms, such as conjunctivitis, and have been treated with antiviral medications like Tamiflu. While the CDC is monitoring the situation closely, officials maintain that the risk to the general public remains low.
They believe that infections among individuals have primarily occurred due to exposure to infected poultry or livestock, with California being the hardest-hit state, reporting infections in 137 dairy herds since late August. As investigations continue, CDC teams have been deployed to various states to assist in tracking the spread of the virus.
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