Person Infected with Bird Flu in Missouri Had No Contact with Animals: What to Know

**Deadly H5N1 virus found in Missouri**

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a case of avian influenza (bird flu) in a person in Missouri who had no contact with birds before getting sick, the agency said on Wednesday, April 26. This is the first known human case of the H5N1 bird flu virus in the United States this year.

The patient, who lives in a rural area, is hospitalized and receiving antiviral treatment. The CDC is conducting an investigation to determine how the person was infected.

**Highly pathogenic strain**

The H5N1 strain of bird flu is highly pathogenic, meaning it can cause severe illness and death in birds, the CDC reports. The virus can also be transmitted to humans, though this is rare. Most human cases of bird flu have occurred in people who came into direct contact with infected birds or their saliva, nasal secretions, or feces.

**No contact with poultry**

However, the infected person in Missouri had no contact with poultry before getting sick, the CDC said. This suggests that the person may have been infected through contact with an environmental source, such as contaminated soil or water, the agency said.

**No evidence of human-to-human transmission**

There is no evidence that the H5N1 virus can spread from person to person, the CDC said. The virus is not spread through food, the agency added.

**Close monitoring**

The CDC is monitoring for any additional cases of bird flu in humans and is working with state and local health officials to investigate the source of the infection in Missouri.

**Precautions**

People who work with poultry or live near poultry farms should take precautions to avoid contact with the virus, such as wearing gloves and masks, the CDC said. People should also avoid touching dead birds or their saliva, nasal secretions, or feces.

Symptoms of bird flu in humans can include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, and fatigue.

**Antiviral treatment**

There are antiviral drugs that can be used to treat bird flu, the CDC said. The drugs are most effective when taken early in the course of the illness.

**More information**

For more information about bird flu, visit the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/avianflu/avian-flu-in-humans.htm