Third Bird Flu Case in the U.S. Detected in Michigan Dairy Farm Worker

A third person in the United States has tested positive for the H5 bird flu virus, confirmed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. This individual is the second reported case in Michigan and involved a farmworker who exhibited eye symptoms and respiratory issues such as a cough, differing from previous cases which only reported eye infections.

Health officials highlighted that the respiratory symptoms in the current case likely arose from inhalation of infectious aerosols in the milking parlor. This contrasts with the previous Michigan case where the infection followed direct contact with infected milk.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, mentioned that neither individual had used full personal protective equipment (PPE), emphasizing its importance for farmworkers. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that the risk to the general public remains low, with no sustained human-to-human transmission observed.

The infected individual had close contact with dairy cattle and is experiencing mild symptoms. The case is being monitored, and the Michigan health department continues to advise farmworkers to get a seasonal flu vaccine to reduce the risk of co-infection.

The CDC is currently investigating transmissions between cattle and humans. This is the third recognized human infection from this avian influenza strain currently affecting U.S. dairy farms. Thus far, each case appears to involve direct exposure to infected animals, without any evidence of transmission between humans.

Health authorities announced plans to test dairy farm workers for asymptomatic bird flu to better understand its spread. Currently, 67 dairy herds in nine states have reported infections.

In related developments, Moderna is closing in on a deal with the U.S. government for federal funding to support late-stage trials of its bird flu vaccine, which targets the current H5 strain. The biotechnology firm has completed initial trials and is awaiting data on the vaccine’s efficacy.