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#18,495
Over the past 7 days we've seen the expansion of (presumed or confirmed) cases of human infection with the H5N1 virus expand to 3 new states (Arizona - 2, Delaware - 1, Louisiana -1) as the fall wave of the HPAI virus continues to spread across the country.
While I was on the phone this afternoon with Sharon Sanders of FluTrackers - discussing the HHS presser we both attended earlier today - she alerted me to the following report, just released by the Wisconsin DHS, making it the 4th new state in the past week.
After the break, I'll have another announcement from California, whose Governor which just declared a `bird flu emergency'.
DHS Reports Presumptive Positive Human Case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has detected the first presumptive positive human case of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A (H5N1), also known as bird flu, in Barron County. The human case follows an infected flock of commercial poultry identified in Barron County. The person had exposure to the infected flock. The case was identified through testing at the Wisconsin State Lab of Hygiene (WSLH) and is pending confirmation at CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
DHS, in coordination with Barron County Health and Human Services, is monitoring farm workers who may have been exposed to the virus and has provided them with information to protect their health. The risk to the general public in Wisconsin remains low. People who work with infected animals, or have recreational exposure to them, are at higher risk.
The H5N1 HPAI virus has continued to circulate in both wild and domestic birds in North America since December 2021. H5N1 HPAI viruses are highly contagious and often fatal to domestic poultry. Caused by influenza type A viruses, the disease can cause illnesses ranging from very mild to severe depending on the strain and species affected. The disease can spread from infected birds to people by contact with infected birds, commingling with wild birds or their droppings, equipment, or clothing worn by anyone working with the animals.
The virus does not spread easily from animals to people. People who have gotten sick with bird flu have been in direct contact with infected animals.
Symptoms of bird flu in people include:
- Sore throat
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Cough
- Eye infections (Conjunctivitis)
Anyone who develops symptoms of flu or an eye infection and has been in contact with animals who may have been infected should stay home (not go to work, school, shopping, or use public transportation) and call their doctor's office or clinic before visiting so they can take precautions to ensure other patients are not exposed to the virus. Treatment for bird flu may include hospitalization, supportive care and/or the use of antivirals.
It is safe to eat eggs, poultry, and meat that has been fully cooked. Pasteurized milk and milk products, such as cheese and yogurt, are also safe to eat and drink. General precautions should always be taken when handling any raw meat, including raw eggs, to avoid possibly spreading germs. These measures include:
- Washing hands and surfaces before and after food preparation.
- Avoiding using the same utensils on raw meat as on other foods, even cooked meat.
- Cooking raw meat thoroughly.
Additional case counts will be posted to Outbreaks, Recalls, and Investigations in Wisconsin. Prevention information for farmworkers or others who have close contact with birds, dairy cows or other relevant animals can be found under Protective Actions for People.
Communications team
Ali Maresh, Director
Claire Yunker, Deputy Director
Elizabeth Goodsitt, Specialist
Jennifer Miller, Specialist
And then there's this . . .
Governor Newsom takes proactive action to strengthen robust state response to Bird Flu
What you need to know: Following the spread of Bird Flu in sixteen states, including in California and outside the Central Valley, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency today to further enhance the state’s preparedness and accelerate the ongoing cross-agency response efforts.
Sacramento, California – Governor Gavin Newsom today proclaimed a State of Emergency to streamline and expedite the state’s response to Avian influenza A (H5N1), commonly known as “Bird Flu.” This action comes as cases were detected in dairy cows on farms in Southern California, signaling the need to further expand monitoring and build on the coordinated statewide approach to contain and mitigate the spread of the virus. The virus has spread in 16 states among dairy cattle, following its first confirmed detection in Texas and Kansas in March 2024.
To date, no person-to-person spread of Bird Flu has been detected in California and nearly all infected individuals had exposure to infected cattle. California has already established the largest testing and monitoring system in the nation to respond to the outbreak.
This emergency proclamation will provide state and local agencies with additional flexibility around staffing, contracting, and other rules to support California’s evolving response.
“This proclamation is a targeted action to ensure government agencies have the resources and flexibility they need to respond quickly to this outbreak. Building on California’s testing and monitoring system — the largest in the nation — we are committed to further protecting public health, supporting our agriculture industry, and ensuring that Californians have access to accurate, up-to-date information. While the risk to the public remains low, we will continue to take all necessary steps to prevent the spread of this virus.”
Governor Gavin Newsom
Neither of these announcements represents a radical change to our avian flu situation, but they do highlight the rapid escalation of the threat in recent weeks. And the timing, is not particularly good.
Updates from state and local agencies may become less robust over the Christmas - New Year's holiday break, media coverage may dwindle, and people may be tempted to ignore the threat for the duration.
A reminder that `no news' isn't always `good news' - the virus won't stop just because we are otherwise preoccupied - and that what we don't know can hurt us.
