CDC Prepares for ‘Possibility of Increased Risk to Human Health’ from Avian Flu

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a summary Friday that it was preparing for “the possibility of increased risk to human health” from avian flu following an outbreak in dairy cows and two confirmed human cases. .

However, the federal health agency also said that the risk of avian flu, also known as bird flu, to Americans is currently low and there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission. in the USA.

Federal and state public health officials said in late March they were investigating a disease affecting mostly older dairy cows in Kansas, New Mexico and Texas and causing symptoms including decreased milk supply and a poor appetite.

The first case was confirmed in a US farmworker in Texas and the second case in a farmworker in Michigan who was regularly exposed to avian influenza infected by livestock.

The CDC said the only symptoms experienced by the two human patients were redness of the eyes. Both have since recovered.

As of May 22, more than 350 people exposed to dairy cows and/or infected unpasteurized cow’s milk have been monitored. The Michigan case was identified through daily surveillance of farmworkers, according to the CDC. Farm workers and those who work in agriculture are at greatest risk of bird flu.

There is currently no evidence that bird flu spreads from person to person.

“Although currently circulating A(H5N1) viruses do not have the ability to spread easily between people, it is possible that influenza A(H5N1) viruses could evolve in ways that allow them to easily infect people. people and spread effectively between people, potentially causing a pandemic,” the CDC wrote in its summary.

As they continue their preparedness efforts, federal health officials have made progress filling about 4.8 million doses of avian flu vaccine into vials through their national stockpile in case it becomes necessary, according to Dawn O ‘Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at the Department of Health. Ministry of Health and Social Services.

“This step further strengthens our readiness,” she said this week.

Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital and an ABC News contributor, said the preparedness efforts are an example of how government is being proactive rather than reactive.

“Public health needs to stay ahead of the curve,” he said. “Public health, when it’s functioning at its best, is proactive and actively looking for potential signals, using all the methodological data at its disposal because that’s the time when we can identify something if it changes…. While public health is on guard and alert and by investing significant resources, this does not necessarily have to translate into concern among the general public.”

HHS worked with a manufacturing partner on the process known as “fill and finish” without disrupting ongoing production of the seasonal flu vaccine. The vaccine is “well matched to the H5N1 strain currently circulating,” O’Connell said.

The federal government has not reported any cause for concern at this time and the CDC says it is important that the flu response network remains strengthened throughout the spring and summer, including by increasing the number of samples to be tested further, continuing surveillance and encouraging clinicians to consider avian influenza. when evaluating patients with conjunctivitis or respiratory illness following exposure to agriculture or livestock farming.

Additionally, milk samples were found to contain remnants of the virus, but testing determined that pasteurization inactivated the virus. Raw milk is not pasteurized and health authorities have long warned against consuming it because it can contain bacteria that can cause illness.