The World Health Organization reported Friday that it has been notified of a human case of avian influenza (H5) in Colorado.
According to the information released, “The case was involved in culling of poultry at a farm where influenza A (H5N1) virus was confirmed in the poultry.”
The case was confirmed April 27 by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the release stated.
Individuals who have been identified as close contacts of the people involved in culling the poultry have been identified and tested, and are undergoing followup, according to the release.
The release further states that based on available information, the World Health Organization is assessing the risk posed by the disease to the general public as “low,” and for persons exposed occupationally, the risk is considered “low-to-moderate.”
According to case information supplied within the release, the subject who is confirmed to have contracted the disease is male. He developed fatigue on April 20 while participating in slaughtering poultry between April 18 and 22.
After lab analysis confirmed the case, the release noted, “the patient was isolated and treated with antivirals. The patient did not report symptoms other than fatigue, was not hospitalized and has since recovered.”
Since March, the organization reports a total of 864 human cases of H5N1 worldwide. Some 456 of those cases have resulted in death. The cases have been reported from within 18 countries, the report noted.
The case in Colorado is the first in the United States.
“There are no specific vaccines for preventing influenza A(H5N1) in humans. Candidate vaccines to prevent influenza A(H5) virus infection in humans have been developed for pandemic preparedness purposes. Close analysis of the epidemiological situation, further characterization of the most recent viruses (human and poultry) and serological investigations are critical to assess associated risk and to adjust risk management measures in a timely manner,” the report notes.
The full report from the World Health Organization is here: https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2022-E000111.
Additionally, as of Thursday, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has identified cases of avian influenza is backyard flocks in Pierce and Sauk counties.
According to the department’s release, “birds on both sites will be depopulated to prevent spread of the disease.”
Since March, avian influenza in domestic flocks has been confirmed in 11 Wisconsin counties.
The first outbreak in a domestic flock in Wisconsin was reported in a commercial flock in Jefferson County at an egg-production facility in Palmyra. Since then, nearly 3 million birds from that site have been depopulated.
Other counties in which domestic commercial and noncommercial flocks have been identified as having the virus include Rock, Racine, Barron, Columbia, Polk, Sheboygan, Oconto and Fond du Lac.
The full news release identifying flocks in Sauk and Pierce counties is here: https://datcp.wi.gov/Pages/News_Media/20220505HPAISaukPierce.aspx.
File photo/Kim McDarison.
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