by The Wyoming Department of Health reports the first case of H5N1 -Aviaire Influenza in a person is confirmed in an older adult of flat county. The woman represents the third confirmed hospitalization with regard to H5N1 in the United States.
“Although this is an important development, since the activity of bird flu is followed in Wyoming and throughout the country, it is not something that we think a high level of care requires for most residents of Wyoming,” Dr. Alexia Harrrist, State Health Officaris and Staatssepidemiologist with the Wyoming Department of Health, said in a press release.
Harrister said that the woman was admitted to the hospital in a different state, health status has been able to make people more vulnerable for illness and probably exposed to the virus by direct contact with an infected poultry herd at her home.
It is known that H5N1 has been infecting wild birds in Wyoming for some time, whereby the currently circulating virus is spreading nationally since 2022, the press release says. Infections between poultry and dairy cattle also took place in Wyoming.
“Experts continue to follow the spread of H5N1 through wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle throughout the country. A small number of people are also infected. Most of those confirmed cases involved at work, close contact with poultry or cattle and mild symptoms, “said Harrister. “Unfortunately, the experience of this patient has been much more serious.”
The test result was confirmed this afternoon by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Laboratory.
“We want to remind people that so far there has been no documented transmission for people to human from this virus in the United States,” Harrister said. “Our staff followed other people who had contact with the herd and the patient and will continue to work with national and national experts to carefully follow the situation for Wyoming.”
Harrist noted that the current risk of public health is low, but there are some common sense that people can consider protecting themselves and their families:
- Do not eat uncooked food; Cook poultry, eggs and other animal products to the right temperature and avoid cross -contamination between raw and cooked food.
- Avoid direct contact with wild birds.
- Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that seem sick or have died. If the symptoms are observed in birds, contact a veterinarian or report sick domestic birds at the Wyoming Livestock Board on 307-777-8270. If contact with the sick or dead birds is necessary, the use of clothing of personal protection and items is highly recommended.
- Avoid unprotected immediately physical contact or close exposure with cattle and materials that may be infected or confirmed to be infected with bird flu.
- Do not eat or drink raw milk or products made with raw milk.
Sick or dead wild birds can be reported to the Wyoming game and the fishing department by calling 307-745-5865, online reporting on https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/7d0c547b8fa5444A7315a or make contacts Office.
More information about bird flu is available at the CDC Athttps: //www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/index.html. More specific recommendations for people who have poultry are available at CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/groups/index.html.
