Two individuals in the United States have been hospitalized with the H5N1 bird flu, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These cases, reported in Wyoming and Ohio, mark the first detection of human H5 cases in these states. The woman from Wyoming remains under medical care, while the man from Ohio has been discharged after treatment. As health officials scramble to understand the implications of these cases, concerns about the virus's potential impact continue to grow.
In Wyoming, an "older" woman from Platte County was transferred to another state for hospitalization, as reported by the Wyoming Department of Health. The department noted that she "has health conditions that can make people more vulnerable to illness." Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Health detailed that the infected man from Mercer County contracted the virus while working to depopulate H5N1-positive poultry at a commercial facility. His case underscores the risks associated with handling infected birds.
The emergence of these cases coincides with previous incidents in Louisiana and British Columbia, attributed to a variant of H5N1 that gained prevalence among birds last fall. In Louisiana, a man succumbed to the infection after exposure to backyard chickens and wild birds. Similarly, a 13-year-old girl in British Columbia faced severe illness and prolonged hospitalization with no known exposure source.
“This shows that H5N1 can be very severe and we should not assume that it will always be mild,” – Angela Rasmussen
The CDC reports that since the virus was first detected in cows last year, there have been 70 confirmed cases of this highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States. New research published in the CDC’s Emerging Infectious Diseases journal provides some insights into varying severity among cases. One study suggests that ferrets first infected with H1N1 experienced milder symptoms from H5N1, hinting at possible cross-protection for humans.
“This is evidence that prior H1N1 infection or vaccination may provide some level of cross-protection via anti-N1 immunity,” – Rasmussen
These findings come as discussions intensify over strategies to manage outbreaks. The Trump administration is reportedly considering a plan that would not focus on containing outbreaks in poultry through depopulation. Additionally, a meeting of the CDC’s independent vaccines committee has been postponed, highlighting the urgency and complexity of addressing this public health issue.
“I am very worried about H5N1 in patients that are being treated in hospitals where there are also many seasonal flu patients because this creates opportunities for reassortment, which could potentially produce a pandemic-capable H5N1,” – Rasmussen
In Missouri, another patient previously tested positive for bird flu without any known exposure, adding to the puzzling nature of these infections. The backdrop to this growing concern is the 2009-10 H1N1 swine flu epidemic, which similarly challenged health systems worldwide.