The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring “red flags” about bird flu and whether the disease could develop into a pandemic, the report said.
The latest figures show 66 of confirmed cases in humans bird flu in the US CDC is taking a holiday break and will continue to update data on human cases on January 3.
“Identifying epidemiologically related clusters of influenza A(H5N1) cases in humans could mean that the virus spreads better between people,” a CDC spokesperson he told Newsweek. “CDC looks for genetic changes in circulating viruses that suggest they may be better transmitted between people.”
Red flags that the CDC monitors are outbreaks that spread from person to person and evidence that the virus has mutated, Newsweek reports.
BIRD FLU OUTBREAK SPREADS, MORE MICHIGAN POULTRY FACILITIES EXPOSED TO VIRUS
This undated electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows two virions of influenza A (H5N1), a type of bird flu virus. (Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC via AP, File)
Last week, the CDC announced that a patient in Louisiana who was hospitalized with severe bird flu disease he was found to have a mutated version of the virus. That case fell into the red flag category, a CDC spokesperson told Newsweek.
“The analysis identified low-frequency mutations in the hemagglutinin gene of the sample sequenced from the patient, which were not found in virus sequences from poultry samples collected on the patient’s farm, suggesting changes that occurred in the patient after infection,” the CDC said in a post on its website.
BIRD FLU PATIENT HAD VIRUS MUTATIONS, CAUSING CONCERN ABOUT HUMAN SPREAD
A recall warning is displayed on a refrigerator at a pet store in Tigard, Oregon, Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, after Northwest Naturals announced Tuesday a voluntary recall of one batch of its Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food of 2 pounds after testing positive for the virus. (Jenny Kane)
“Although these low-frequency changes are rare in humans, they have been reported in previous cases of A(H5N1) in other countries and most commonly during serious illness“, the agency added.
The CDC did not immediately respond to an inquiry from Fox News Digital, but previously stressed that the virus is not known to have been transmitted from the Louisiana patient to anyone else.
An exhibitor trims a cow’s coat at the state fair in West Allis, Wisconsin, U.S., August 9, 2024. Dairy farmers took precautions with bird flu testing while exhibiting cattle during the fair. (Reuters/Jim Vondruska)
Avian influenza, also known as HPAI, is a highly contagious virus which can spread in a variety of ways from flock to flock through contact with infected animals, equipment, and on the clothing and footwear of caregivers, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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State officials confirmed infected flocks in two more Michigan counties on Monday.
FILE PHOTO: A person touches a test tube labeled “Bird flu,” in this Jan. 14, 2023, file photo. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvić/Illustration/File Photo)
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According to the CDC, the public health risk associated with avian influenza remains low. No birds or bird products infected with HPAI will enter the commercial food chain.
Fox News’ Alexandra Koch, Melissa Rudy and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
