Wyoming reports 1st human bird flu case: 3 updates

A woman in Platte County, Wyo., has been hospitalized with the state’s first reported case of H5N1 avian flu, the fourth severe case in the U.S., CIDRAP reported Feb. 17. 

Advertisement

Here are three updates:

  1. The Wyoming Department of Health said she likely contracted the virus from infected backyard poultry. While officials are monitoring the situation, the department maintained that overall risk to the public remains low. 
  2. This case adds to the 70 known U.S. infections over the past year mainly linked to contact with sick poultry or cattle. Most cases have been mild, though one individual in Louisiana died from the virus. 
  3. Amid growing concerns, pharmaceutical company Zoetis received a conditional license from the USDA for its bird flu vaccine to be used in chickens. The vaccine targets the H5N2 strain, a related subtype of bird flu found in poultry and humans. 

A spokesperson for the company told NBC News the vaccine is not yet commercially available. 

Advertisement

Next Up in Public Health

Advertisement

Comments are closed.