A medical professional has fallen sick, becoming the third individual to experience illness following interaction with a Missouri patient diagnosed with avian influenza.
The healthcare employee, who works in the medical field, wasn't tested due to their symptoms resolving before the inquiry into the illnesses started, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This marks the second time a healthcare worker has reported developing symptoms after being near the patient. The first individual was tested for the flu, and the findings showed no infection, according to the CDC.
The risk of H5N1 to the common public remains minimal, according to the agency.
Healthcare workers are typically high on the radar of disease investigators due to their tendency to fall ill first during outbreaks.
However, this situation is far from a straightforward one. The patient had existing health problems that affected their lung function, and when tested, the viral concentration in a sample from them was low, which usually indicates a mild or possibly declining infection.
Dr. Michael Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, stated that his level of concern remains low. He wasn't involved in the Missouri investigation.
He pointed out that there are numerous other infections that could cause respiratory symptoms.
“Though this is true, we saw a surge in Covid-19, along with RSV, around the same time, so you would expect a percentage of the population to display respiratory symptoms not linked to the flu,” Osterholm added. In a hospital setting, healthcare workers might come across these pathogens even more frequently.
Despite this, the discovery of additional potential cases late in the investigation stirs up questions.
“It's uncertain why this wasn't reported along with the other cases, and efforts to identify influenza cases early should be implemented,” said Dr. Seema Lakdawala, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at Emory University School of Medicine.
“Further details on whether this is an influenza infection or another respiratory virus are required. Serology will be beneficial in all these cases, as well as in other contacts who may not have shown symptoms,” Lakdawala, who studies the transmission of the H5N1 virus, but isn't involved in the Missouri investigation, stated.
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“Identifying all potential cattle herds with H5 in all states is crucial,” Lakdawala said. “It's surprising that this information is still unavailable, even months after the first cattle cases were identified in March.”
Since the first instances of bird flu in dairy cattle were noticed in March, 213 herds have tested positive in 14 states. However, no positive herds have been reported in Missouri.
The root cause of the Missouri patient contracting H5N1 remains a mystery. The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has interviewed the patient, as well as an individual in their household who also fell ill on the same day but wasn't tested. They reported no contact with sick animals or raw milk.
Both individuals have fully recovered from their illnesses. Blood samples were taken from them this week and sent to the CDC for testing for antibodies to the virus that causes bird flu, which would indicate a previous infection.
Healthcare workers are often prioritized during disease investigations due to their likelihood of falling ill first during outbreaks. Despite having reported respiratory symptoms, the healthcare worker in question wasn't tested initially due to their symptoms resolving before the investigation began.
