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#17,038
While I was composing my last blog on the ECDC's testing guidance for zoonotic influenza in the EU, reports of a (mild) H5N1 infection in Spain have appeared online. This follows two cases (in the UK and the United States) over the past 10 months.
Links to both are below:An important caveat: At this time, there is no official confirmation on Spain's MOH website, but this report has been posted on at least two Spanish language websites; The Journal of Animal Health and Agro Meat.
The Ministry of Health has reported the detection of avian influenza A (H5N1) in a sample from a worker at a poultry farm in Guadalajara
The Ministry of Health has reported the detection of avian influenza A (H5N1) in a sample from a worker at a poultry farm in Guadalajara
The gist of these reports is the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies ( CCAES ) of the Ministry of Health has reported the detection of positive avian influenza A (H5N1) sample - collected on Sept 23rd - from a farm worker in Guadalajara.
The patient has remained asymptomatic, and in home isolation, and tested negative on the 28th. Close contacts have been monitored, and all have tested negative.
Despite seeing serious, even fatal, H5N1 infections in marine and terrestrial mammals, all 3 (known) human infections with H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b have been mild, and self limiting.
Assuming all of the facts in these reports are correct, this case has been known for 10 days, which may explain today's release of guidance for the ECDC on testing and identification of zoonotic influenza.
Hopefully we'll get official confirmation from the Spanish MOH, or the WHO, soon.
