Avian influenza: US reports first human case of bird flu

The United States has reported its first confirmed human case of avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, on Wednesday.

According to the report given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a patient in Louisiana is currently receiving medical treatment in a hospital for a severe bird flu.

The CDC reported that the patient’s exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks led to the contraction of avian influenza.

According to the Diaspora Digital Media (DDM), the infection was confirmed last Friday through genetic sequencing, which identified the H5N1 virus (D1.1 genotype).

As at the time of this report, further details on the patient’s condition and prognosis are not yet available.

The D1.1 genotype of the avian influenza virus has been recently identified in wild birds and poultry across the United States, as well as in human cases reported in Washington state and British Columbia, Canada.

Notably, this genotype differs from the B3.13 genotype, which has been linked to dairy cows, certain poultry outbreaks, and human cases exhibiting mild symptoms such as conjunctivitis.

However, as of the latest update, the total number of avian influenza infections in the United States during the current 2024 outbreak has reached 61, following the reporting of a new case.

About Avian influenza (bird flu)

Avian influenza, commonly referred to as avian flu or bird flu, is a disease caused by the influenza A virus.

The flu predominantly affects birds but can occasionally infect mammals, including humans.

Symptoms of bird flu

The symptoms of avian influenza exhibit variability depending on the virus strain and the species of bird or mammal infected.

The classification of a virus strain as low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) or high pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is determined by the severity of symptoms in domestic chickens, but does not necessarily predict the severity of symptoms in other species.

Humans and other mammals can only contract avian influenza through prolonged and close contact with infected birds.

Infection with avian influenza, whether low pathogenic (LPAI) or high pathogenic (HPAI), is a rare occurrence in mammals, including humans.

Symptoms of infection can range from mild to severe, encompassing fever, diarrhea, and cough.

How bird flu can be transmitted

The influenza A virus is secreted in the saliva, mucus, and feces of infected birds, while other infected animals may shed the virus in respiratory secretions and other bodily fluids, such as cow milk.

The virus has the potential to spread rapidly among poultry flocks and wild bird populations.

Virology

Avian influenza is a disease caused by the influenza A virus, which primarily affects birds but can also infect humans and other mammals.

The virus is an RNA virus with a genome consisting of a negative-sense, segmented RNA genome that encodes 11 viral genes.

The viral envelope of the influenza virus features two prominent surface proteins: hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.

These proteins serve as the primary antigens, triggering the production of neutralizing antibodies.

Changes in the antigenic structure of these proteins are associated with the emergence of influenza virus epidemics and epizootics.

Influenza A virus subtype H7N9

In March 2013, a significant outbreak of influenza A virus subtype H7N9 (A/H7N9) occurred in China, resulting in 18 human cases, six of which were fatal.

Investigation revealed that a low-pathogenic strain of A/H7N9 was circulating among chickens, and all affected individuals had been exposed to poultry markets.

Following the initial outbreak, infections among humans and poultry persisted, with recurring peaks around the Chinese New Year.

In 2016, a highly pathogenic strain of the virus emerged, prompting the Chinese authorities to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign in 2017.

This effort successfully reduced the number of outbreaks in poultry and human cases.

Notably, the symptoms and mortality rates for both low-pathogenic and highly pathogenic strains have been similar in humans.

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