Rise in bird flu cases observed in the US: First case not transmitted from animals

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

American health authorities announced yesterday (Friday, September 6) that laboratory tests have confirmed a patient contracted bird flu without any known contact with an animal carrier; this is a unique case in the world.

Until yesterday, it was known that all bird flu cases detected in the country were based on contact with animals. The cases were particularly linked to poultry.

However, a new patient admitted to the hospital on August 22 with a bird flu diagnosis raised questions for American authorities. Officials had requested additional tests to be certain of the diagnosis given to the patient.

In a press release published by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was stated that the person hospitalized had indeed contracted bird flu.

The CDC stated, 'No cases of transmission through close contact (with the patient) have been detected.' The possibility that the patient consumed milk or meat from an infected cow is being investigated. However, no known bird flu cases had been detected among cows in Missouri, where the case was identified.

This is the 14th case detected in the US this year and the first case where the patient had no known contact with an infected animal or bird.

BIRD FLU OUTBREAKS HAVE BEEN OBSERVED TO INCREASE IN RECENT MONTHS

Since the spring, a bird flu outbreak with unusual characteristics has emerged in the country: The disease, which primarily affected farm birds and wild birds, is now spreading to cows. The first case was announced on April 1 in Texas, in the southern US. This was the first known case of the bird flu virus being transmitted from a cow to a human.

THE POSSIBILITY OF MUTATION INCREASES AS BIRD FLU SPREADS

Experts are concerned about the increasing number of mammals infected with the disease, despite the low number of human cases. The reason for their concern is that widespread transmission makes it easier for the virus to mutate, and there is a possibility that the virus could gradually acquire characteristics that would facilitate human-to-human transmission.

However, in a statement yesterday, the CDC gave assurances that the risk to the general population 'remains low'; the CDC has not issued any new recommendations for combating the outbreak at this stage.

News Source: 12punto