Saline County, Kansas – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday that there is no clear evidence of bird flu spreading among humans despite an ongoing outbreak of the virus in dairy cows. The CDC revealed new data from 189 wastewater sampling sites across the country, showing elevated levels of an influenza A virus in several locations, including Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois, and Kansas as of May 4th.
The strain of bird flu affecting cows, known as H5N1, is a type of influenza A virus. Notably, high levels of flu virus were detected at a site in Saline County, Kansas, with four herds testing positive in April. However, it is uncertain whether the wastewater samples in Kansas were solely from human waste or also included runoff water from farms. Additionally, the CDC stated that the increased virus levels do not necessarily indicate infections in humans, cows, birds, or other animals.
Jonathan Yoder, deputy director of the CDC’s division of infectious disease readiness and innovation, expressed the agency’s interest in understanding the factors contributing to the rise in influenza A cases during what is typically considered a low transmission season. Meanwhile, Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert from Duke University, remarked that the current data from the CDC is reassuring, noting a lack of flu-like illnesses in his medical practice.
Regarding the impact on livestock, the outbreak has affected 42 herds across nine states, with monitoring underway for 260 individuals exposed to infected dairy cows for flu-like symptoms. Only one case of bird flu has been confirmed in a dairy farm worker in Texas, who experienced severe conjunctivitis but has since recovered. Despite the ongoing situation, health officials have not observed any significant increase in flu-related illnesses in recent weeks.
As investigations and monitoring continue, efforts are being made to contain the spread of the virus and ensure the well-being of both animals and humans in affected areas. The CDC’s ongoing surveillance and testing aim to prevent any potential escalation of the outbreak and provide necessary support to those at risk of exposure to the bird flu virus.