A second health worker in contact with a Missouri patient who tested positive for H5N1 developed respiratory symptoms but was not tested for influenza, according to the CDC. The Missouri patient did not have contact with poultry or dairy cows and had severe underlying conditions, but has since recovered. Last week, a health care worker who cared for the patient developed mild respiratory symptoms and tested negative for influenza. Additionally, a household contact of the patient also became sick on the same day with gastrointestinal symptoms.
Initially, the CDC believed none of the patient’s close contacts showed signs of illness, but three contacts have now been identified. Blood samples have been collected for serological testing to confirm a previous H5N1 infection, although results may take several weeks. The second health care worker will also be offered a blood test for antibodies to the bird flu virus.
H5 viruses do not typically spread person to person, but health officials are concerned due to their high mortality rate. The source of the Missouri patient’s infection is unknown, with investigations ongoing into potential animal exposures. Experts are concerned about the timing of the illnesses, which occurred outside of flu season, and are considering human-to-human transmission as a possibility.
Despite the infections in poultry and dairy workers, the virus may not have mutated to increase human transmissibility. The CDC is closely monitoring the situation and investigating all possible sources of exposure.
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