Missouri patient tests positive for avian flu with no apparent animal contact

A patient in Missouri was diagnosed with bird flu while being hospitalized, despite not having any contact with dairy cows or other animals connected to the current outbreak, as stated by health officials on Friday.
Fourteen individuals in the U.S. have now been affected by bird flu since March, when the virus was first identified in cows, following infections in wild birds and mammals globally. One additional person was infected in 2022.
According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials, the risk to the general public remains low, and no unusual flu activity has been observed in the U.S., including in Missouri.
The most recent case was confirmed after the adult patient was hospitalized on August 22 with other medical conditions, according to a statement released by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
The individual initially tested positive for influenza A, which was later determined by CDC officials to be bird flu. The patient received antiviral treatment, has since recovered, and returned home, health officials reported. It remains uncertain whether the hospitalization was due to the bird flu infection or the person’s pre-existing health issues, said Lisa Cox, a spokesperson for the Missouri health department.
The patient’s identity, age, and place of residence were not disclosed by health officials, and CDC officials confirmed that no close contacts of the patient have been infected.
This case has raised questions regarding how the individual was exposed to the virus, as all previous cases in the U.S. were linked to individuals working with cows and poultry.
Although bird flu has been identified in almost 200 dairy herds across 14 states, Missouri has not reported any cases, according to the Agriculture Department. The virus has been detected in commercial and backyard flocks as well as in wild birds. It was mentioned by Cox that the patient did not report consuming raw milk, which can contain live virus.
The investigation into the matter is ongoing, as stated by officials.
This case marks the first time bird flu was detected through routine influenza surveillance rather than targeted efforts to identify individuals infected through exposure to infected cows and poultry, authorities stated.