St. Louis Health Department encouraging vigilance after Missouri’s first human case of bird flu

ST. LOUIS – Less than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first human case of avian influenza A— also known as H5 bird flu —in Missouri, St. Louis health officials are asking residents who own or come into contact with domestic or wild birds to exercise caution when handling the animals.

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) investigated the case and reported the matter to the CDC after acquiring a specimen from the patient, who was hospitalized on August 22.

The patient, an adult not identified by name, age, or gender, had underlying medical conditions prior to testing positive.

According to the DHSS, the patient had reported no exposure to animals. All previous human cases of H5 involved people who worked with cows or poultry. After the patient tested positive, the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory conducted additional testing to determine the influenza subtype. This resulted in the presumptive detection of the H5 subtype.

The patient eventually recovered and was discharged; no close contacts were infected. Health officials have not released additional information on the patient to ensure privacy.

Avian flu can infect a bird’s intestines and respiratory tract and can be passed through feces, nasal secretions, and saliva. Additionally, the virus can spread when animals come into contact with infected bird-contaminated surfaces or environments.

Though primarily found in wild birds and poultry, H5 has recently been discovered in dairy cows and other animals.

Bird-to-human transmission is rare, and the CDC maintains that the public health risk to H5 avian flu is low. According to the CDC, this is the 15th human case of H5 reported in the U.S. since 2022.

The St. Louis Department of Health passed along the following tips for people who own or work around livestock:

• Wear protective gear such as gloves and a facemask when coming into direct contact with the birds or their living environment
• Wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds after handling the animals or items belonging to them
• Keep other animals, such as dogs or cats, away from the birds
• Report deceased birds that recently suffered an illness to the Missouri Division of Animal Health at 573-751-3377 or animal.health@mda.mo.gov . Carefully wrap the bird in a plastic bag so that it can be submitted for laboratory testing

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