H5N1 Bird Flu Quietly Transmitted from Animals to Certain Humans: US CDC
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Synopsis
A recent US CDC study reveals that H5N1 bird flu has quietly spread from animals to some humans, particularly veterinarians, without symptoms, indicating that actual cases may be significantly underreported.
Key Takeaways
- H5N1 bird flu transmission from animals to humans is occurring.
- Many veterinarians remain asymptomatic despite exposure.
- Reported cases of human infections may be underestimated.
- Potential for hundreds or thousands of undiagnosed cases.
- Virus mutations could increase risk for human health.
New Delhi, Feb 14 (NationPress) The H5N1 bird flu has quietly made its way from animals to certain humans who care for them, as indicated by a recent study from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This research implies that the actual cases of bird flu might be significantly underestimated.
The study revealed that veterinarians showed no symptoms and therefore did not seek medical attention, in contrast to poultry workers who were infected. These findings emerge as the US faces ongoing challenges with bird flu, with approximately 68 human infections reported in the previous year.
Dr. Gregory Gray, an infectious disease expert at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, stated that this suggests the reported numbers “are probably a major undercount.”
“This indicates that individuals are getting infected, likely due to their work-related exposures, without exhibiting symptoms and thus not pursuing medical help,” Gray elaborated.
The researchers pointed out that simply monitoring medical clinics reporting bird flu cases might not sufficiently capture the extent of bird flu transmission.
For this study, the research team analyzed blood samples from 150 veterinarians across 46 states in the US. Despite none of them presenting symptoms like red eyes, the tests showed that around 2 to 3 percent had antibodies indicative of H5N1 infection.
While three of these veterinarians worked with dairy cattle and other animals, none were confirmed infected. One did report interaction with a flock of infected poultry. Previous research has indicated that some dairy farm workers exhibited symptoms but were never accurately diagnosed.
Due to the limited scale of these studies, they could not provide a precise estimate of undiagnosed human infections.
However, these could amount to hundreds or even thousands of cases, Gray noted. Presently, there is no immediate cause for alarm, but shifts or mutations in the virus could potentially lead to severe illness in humans or enhance the spread of the H5N1 virus, cautioned Jacqueline Nolting, a researcher at Ohio State University.
