A new strain of bird flu, D1.1, has spread from dairy cows to a human in Nevada, marking a significant development in the ongoing outbreak, according to the CDC.
The patient, a dairy worker, was infected after working with sick cows and experienced mild symptoms, including pink eye, NBC News reported Feb. 10.
Here are five more updates:
- The H5N9 strain was discovered on a California duck farm in late January. Genetic sequencing shows it has a reassortant nature, raising concerns over potential outbreaks.
- This marks the second human case of the newly identified D1.1 strain of H5N1, which is different from the strain found in most U.S. human infections thus far. This strain, which has been found in dairy cows, could spread more easily in mammals. Michael Osterholm, PhD, an infectious disease expert from the University of Minnesota, told NBC, "We're gonna have another influenza pandemic and when it happens we shouldn't be surprised. But will it be H5, or not? I don't know."
- The virus has caused extensive outbreaks in poultry farms across eight states, resulting in millions of birds being culled and egg shortages. While it hasn't been fatal in dairy cows, the virus continues to evolve.
- A federal freeze on health communications by the Trump administration has interrupted several bird flu studies earmarked for the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Report, leaving public health experts concerned about the impact of a delayed response.
- Most people infected with the bird flu, including the Nevada patient, have only shown mild symptoms. However, one individual in Louisiana who was 65 and had underlying health issues, died from the D1.1 strain.