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#USA, Novel #Influenza A #H5N1 Virus: Five New Cases reported in Week 51/2024 {3 in #California, 1 in #Wisconsin, 1 in #Iowa}

{Excerpts}

-- Five confirmed cases of influenza A(H5) were reported to CDC this week

-- To date, human-to-human transmission of influenza A(H5) virus has not been identified in the United States.

Three of these cases were reported by the California Department of Public Health. The cases occurred in workers aged ≥18 years at commercial dairy cattle farms in an area where highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) viruses had been detected in cows. The individuals had mild symptoms, which they reported to local health department officials. There have now been 37 total confirmed cases and one probable case in California during the 2024-2025 influenza season.

One case was reported by the Wisconsin Department of Health. This case occurred in an individual aged ≥18 years who worked at a poultry facility where HPAI A(H5N1) virus had been identified in birds. This individual developed respiratory symptoms during Week 50. Specimens were collected from the individual and initially tested at the state public health laboratories using the CDC influenza A(H5) assay before being sent to CDC for further testing. Influenza A(H5) virus was confirmed at CDC. This is the first influenza A(H5) case in Wisconsin.

One case was reported by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. This case occurred in an individual aged ≥18 years who worked at a poultry facility where HPAI A(H5N1) virus had been identified in birds. This individual developed conjunctivitis and respiratory symptoms during Week 50. Specimens were collected from the individual and initially tested at the State Hygienic Laboratory at the University of Iowa using the CDC influenza A(H5) assay before being sent to CDC for further testing. Influenza A(H5) virus was confirmed at CDC. This is the first influenza A(H5) case in Iowa.

Notification to WHO of the cases reported by the Wisconsin and Iowa departments of health was initiated per International Health Regulations (IHR). More information regarding IHR can be found at http://www.who.int/topics/international_health_regulations/en/. 

No additional notification to WHO of the cases exposed to dairy cows in California is required per International Health Regulations (IHR).

The CSTE position statement, which includes updated case definitions for confirmed, probable, and suspected cases is available at http://www.cste.org/resource/resmgr/position_statements_files_2023/24-ID-09_Novel_Influenza_A.pdf

An up-to-date human case summary during the 2024 outbreak by state and exposure source is available at www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html

Information about avian influenza is available at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/index.htm.

Interim recommendations for Prevention, Monitoring, and Public Health Investigations are available at https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/prevention/hpai-interim-recommendations.html.

The latest case reports on avian influenza outbreaks in wild birds, commercial poultry, backyard or hobbyist flocks, and mammals in the United States are available from the USDA at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai.

(...)

Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2024-week-51.html

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