In a dramatic surge, bird flu cases have rocketed to 31 in the U.S., sparking fresh concerns even as the CDC confirms no evidence of person-to-person transmission. New infections were reported in Washington and California, with California now leading the country at 15 cases.
Health officials revealed that the confirmed cases stemmed from workers handling infected poultry, all of whom experienced mild symptoms and received antiviral treatment. Despite the rising numbers, Dr. Nirav Shah of the CDC reassured the public, saying, “The risk to the general public remains low,” and reiterated that no mutations have been found that would increase the virus’s ability to spread among humans.
A recent scare in Missouri involving healthcare workers exposed to an infected patient was swiftly investigated, with all testing negative for the virus. This comes as the CDC prepares for a potential escalation by working with Quest Diagnostics to launch a prescription bird flu test for those at risk.
The bird flu outbreak began earlier this year, wreaking havoc on poultry farms and even affecting dairy cows. Officials continue to stress that the U.S. commercial milk supply is safe, as pasteurization neutralizes any virus remnants.
With the federal government already injecting $72 million into vaccine preparedness, the CDC is bracing for a possible future uptick in human health risks from the virus. The situation remains fluid as officials monitor any changes in the virus’s transmission patterns.
