As of the latest Bird Flu news, Studies have shown that some dairy workers are testing positive for H5N1 commonly known as bird flu. Serology or blood testing has detected antibodies against the bird flu virus in asymptomatic individuals.
Also Read: Sleepiness During the Day Could Be Sign of Dementia-Related Syndrome
As of this year, 46 dairy workers in the US have been diagnosed with H5N1 primarily from farms in California (21), Washington (11) and Colorado (10).
A study involving 115 dairy workers exposed to the virus on farms in Colorado and Michigan found that eight workers (7%) had antibodies for H5N1, suggesting undetected infections.
Although many infected workers were asymptomatic, some reported mild symptoms such as red, itchy eyes with discharge.
Four out of eight infected individuals did not recall experiencing any illness.
As of the latest Bird Flu news, current data suggest that the virus was transmitted from animals, not through human-to-human contact, as emphasized by Dr. Nirav Shah, the CDC’s principal deputy director.
HPAI A(H5) viruses have circulated globally since 1997, primarily impacting poultry and sporadically affecting humans.
Since March 2024, this virus strain has been detected among dairy cattle. The latest bird flu news underlines the need to monitor dairy workers closely due to their proximity to infected cattle.
Initial human infections were reported in Texas in April 2024 followed by additional cases across dairy farms in other states including Michigan and Colorado. The latest bird flu news shows the importance of surveillance in detecting human cases linked to infected dairy herds.
CDC partnered with Michigan and Colorado health departments to conduct serologic surveys among 115 dairy workers, collecting blood samples to determine evidence of recent HPAI A(H5) infections.
The testing focused on detecting antibodies specific to HPAI A(H5), utilizing microneutralization (MN) and hemagglutinin inhibition (HI) assays.
Among the tested dairy workers, 7% exhibited serologic evidence of infection with the HPAI A(H5) virus. This finding in the latest bird flu news is crucial as it represents a higher rate compared to other agricultural settings and highlights dairy cattle as a new infection reservoir.
Roughly 40% of dairy workers reported illness during the period of exposure, with symptoms such as sore throat, eye irritation and mild respiratory discomfort. However, half of the infected workers showed no symptoms.
The investigation identified that workers involved in cleaning the milking parlor, an area where infected milk and fecal matter are concentrated, were at greater risk of exposure.
This task was linked to positive serology results, addressing the need for targeted preventive actions according to the latest bird flu news.
PPE use was low among infected workers. Only 21% of workers utilized respiratory protection and 37% used eye protection, despite CDC recommendations. Latest bird flu news suggests enhancing PPE education and access to limit future infections.
Most infected workers were Spanish speakers revealing a gap in culturally and linguistically appropriate education about HPAI A(H5) risks.
Also Read: Australia Social Media Ban News: Proposed Legislation to Ban Under 16
As of the latest Bird Flu news, the CDC now advises testing for all dairy workers exposed to bird flu, even if they do not display symptoms, as opposed to the previous policy of only testing symptomatic individuals.
By expanding testing, health authorities hope to capture and address silent infections that may otherwise go unnoticed.
Workers who have had an exposure to H5N1, such as those working without protective equipment are now advised to take Tamiflu to lower their risk of illness.
The CDC is urging farm workers to consistently use personal protective equipment such as masks and goggles, when working in environments with potential H5N1 exposure. Fewer than half of the infected workers wore eye protection and none had respiratory protection.
According to the CDC, each human infection represents an opportunity for the virus to mutate, which could result in a more severe strain with greater transmissibility.
Proactive testing, treatment and isolation efforts are being ramped up to tackle this risk and contain the virus effectively.
The mild symptoms observed in US cases differ from prior H5N1 outbreaks globally, which reported high mortality rates.
Experts speculate that US cases involve a different genotype of the virus. Dr. Demetre Daskalakis from the CDC notes that not all H5N1 strains are identical, which could explain the lower severity of infections seen so far.
Farms should implement engineering controls such as ventilation improvements in milking parlors, as recommended in the latest bird flu news.
Administrative controls including regular animal testing and worker monitoring are also key.
PPE adherence is challenging in dairy environments due to heat and visibility issues. The latest bird flu news advocates for worker-friendly PPE options and adjusting recommendations to better suit dairy work conditions such as lighter, breathable materials.
Given that most affected workers were Spanish speakers, culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials are needed.
The latest bird flu news suggests partnering with community leaders to facilitate education in Spanish and other relevant languages.
As of the latest Bird Flu news, Only 18% of dairy workers received seasonal flu vaccinations in 2023-2024. Increasing vaccination rates could reduce the risk of co-infection with seasonal influenza and HPAI A(H5).
Also Read: Triplets are Becoming Less Common in the United States, CDC Says
