CDC A(H5N1) Bird Flu Response
Update,
AT A GLANCE
CDC provides an update on its response activities related to
the multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1)
virus, or "H5N1 bird flu," in dairy cows and other animals in the
CDC Update
July 12, 2024 – CDC continues to respond to the public
health challenge posed by a multistate outbreak of avian influenza A(H5N1)
virus, or “H5N1 bird flu,” in dairy cows and other animals in the United
States. CDC is working in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state public health and animal
health officials, and other partners using a One Health approach. Four human
cases of A(H5) infection associated with this outbreak
in
Among other activities previously reported in past
spotlights and still ongoing, recent highlights of CDC's response to this
include:
Reporting that despite extensive efforts, CDC has been
unable to sequence or isolate virus from the recent human case in
Given that cows on
the farm where the patient worked were confirmed positive for A(H5N1) virus infection, it is likely this was an N1 also,
but that cannot be conclusively demonstrated. Virus isolation attempts in eggs
and cells were similarly unsuccessful.
Continuing to meet with commercial
laboratories to discuss H5 assay licensing agreements and interest in
development of commercial H5 tests. CDC’s Technology Transfer Office and
the Influenza Division are actively pursuing establishing licensing agreements
with multiple companies, and several have been
completed. Eight of those licenses are currently in place, and several more are
in progress.
Posting a flyer that describes and illustrates the procedure
for collecting, storing, and shipping conjunctival specimens for testing using
the Influenza A(H5) assay. This resource can help
staff at clinics or hospitals and public health departments collect specimens
using eye swabs to test for the presence of A(H5)
virus.
Posting an NCIRD Bulletin on the updated
CDC agricultural fair guidance.
Testing the serological specimens collected as part of the
Planning a Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity
(COCA) Call on
Continuing to support strategies to
maximize protection of farm workers, who are at higher risk of infection based
on their exposures. This includes targeted outreach to farm workers in
affected counties through
Continuing to support states that are monitoring people with
exposure to cows, birds, or other domestic or wild animals infected, or
potentially infected, with avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses. To date, more than
1,390 people have been monitored as a result of their exposure to infected or
potentially infected animals, and at least 61 people who have developed
flu-like symptoms have been tested as part of this targeted, situation-specific
testing. Testing of exposed people who develop symptoms is happening at the
state or local level, and CDC conducts confirmatory testing. Since
Continuing to monitor flu surveillance data using CDC’s
enhanced, nationwide summer surveillance strategy, especially in areas where A(H5N1) viruses have been detected in dairy cows or other
animals, for any unusual trends, including in flu-like illness, conjunctivitis,
or influenza virus activity.
Overall, for the most recent week of data, CDC flu
surveillance systems show no indicators of unusual flu activity in people,
including avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses.
CDC Recommendations
As a reminder, CDC recommends that:
People should avoid exposures to sick or dead animals,
including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or
domesticated animals (including cows), if possible.
People should also avoid exposures to animal poop, bedding
(litter), unpasteurized ("raw") milk, or materials that have been
touched by, or close to, birds or other animals with suspected or confirmed A(H5N1) virus, if possible.
People should not drink raw milk.
Pasteurization kills A(H5N1)
viruses, and pasteurized milk is safe to drink.
People who have job-related contact with infected or
potentially infected birds or other animals should be aware of the risk of
exposure to avian influenza viruses and should take proper precautions. People
should wear appropriate and recommended personal protective equipment when
exposed to an infected or potentially infected animal(s). CDC has
recommendations for worker protection and use of personal protective equipment
(PPE).
CDC has interim recommendations for prevention, monitoring,
and public health investigations of avian influenza A(H5N1)
virus infections in people.
Following these recommendations is central to reducing a
person's risk and containing the overall public health risk.
In addition to limiting interactions between infected
animals and people, containing the outbreak among animals also is important,
which underscores the urgency of the work being done by USDA and animal health
and industry partners.
This is an evolving situation, and CDC is committed to providing frequent and timely updates.