US Confirms First Bird Flu Case Without Known Animal Contact

A resident of Missouri has become the first person in the United States to test positive for bird flu without having a known exposure to infected animals, authorities confirmed on Friday.

The patient, an adult with underlying health conditions, was admitted to hospital on August 22. They received antiviral medication for influenza and have since recovered and been discharged, according to statements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

Initial tests showed that the type of flu appeared unusual, prompting further analysis in state and federal laboratories. These tests identified the infection as H5, commonly known as avian flu or bird flu.

This case marks the 14th instance of bird flu detected in the US this year, and the first with no known contact with infected animals.

The Missouri health department noted that there have been no reports of H5 infection in cattle in the state, although some H5 cases have been reported in commercial and backyard flocks, as well as in wild birds.

Previously, all bird flu cases in the US have involved individuals with direct contact with poultry or birds, including the first case recorded in 2022.

While bird flu is typically found in wild birds and poultry, it has recently been detected in mammals, with a notable outbreak in cattle this year. It can occasionally infect humans through close contact or contaminated environments.

The CDC continues to assess the public risk as low, though it acknowledges that circumstances could change as more information becomes available.

Despite the rare instances of bird flu in humans where no animal source can be identified, there has been no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission, which would significantly heighten the threat level.