Michigan farmer becomes third American infected with H5N1 bird flu — as Biden tells vaccine makers to prepare for pandemic
A Michigan dairy farm worker has become the third person in the US to become infected with bird flu during the current outbreak.
The patient suffered from watery discharge from the eyes – as in the two previous cases – but also developed a cough, the first time this has been reported in connection with this outbreak.
They have been treated with the antiviral drug oseltamivir and are in isolation at home. Their symptoms are described as ‘disappearing’. None of their colleagues or household contacts have developed symptoms of infection.
The case was revealed by the CDC, which said the worker likely contracted the virus through close contact with livestock infected with the virus.
They said the risk to the general public was still low as cases were only recorded among those who had close contact with livestock.
The map above shows states where bird flu infections have been confirmed in dairy cows
The case follows two other infections recorded among dairy farm workers – one in Texas and a second in Michigan last week.
Both were only reported to have symptoms in the eye, such as redness and inflammation.
More to come…