Health
69 human cases reported in 12 states, but officials say public health risk is still low
Bird flu is spreading across the United States, causing egg shortages and soaring prices at supermarkets and restaurants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that the current public health risk is low. There have been at least 69 confirmed human cases of bird flu in 12 states, with one death associated with the H5N1 infection.
In recent months, cases of avian influenza have increased in animals, including poultry, wild birds, dairy cows and even pet cats. Nearly 23 million birds were affected by the virus in January, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since February 2022, over 138 million birds have been infected by H5N1.
Ohio health officials reported on Wednesday that a farm worker had been infected with bird flu after coming into contact with poultry that had the virus — the first detected human case of bird flu in the state. Most human cases are mild, and there is currently no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
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Kate Murphy
As of Feb. 13, 69 cases of bird flu detected in humans have been reported across 12 U.S. states due to exposure from infected commercial poultry, dairy cattle herds or other animals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the current public health risk of bird flu is low.
The states where human cases of bird flu have thus far been identified are Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Colorado, Texas, Louisiana, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.
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