Missouri Bird Flu Case Under Investigation by CDC

The CDC is investigating how a Missouri resident contracted bird flu. This case is the 14th in the U.S. this year, mostly involving farm workers. The patient, hospitalized with symptoms, may have underlying conditions. The CDC is unsure if it's linked to the current outbreak in dairy herds.

Epidemiologists have yet to determine the transmission route of bird flu to a Missouri resident last week, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

This incident marks the 14th human case in the U.S. this year, predominantly affecting farm workers amid bird flu outbreaks at poultry and dairy farms. The infected individual was hospitalized, presenting symptoms such as chest pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, CDC principal deputy director Nirav Shah informed reporters on Thursday.

Shah stated the connection between the patient’s symptoms and their underlying conditions, or the flu itself, remains unclear. The investigation continues, leaving the CDC unable to confirm if this case is part of the current dairy-related bird flu outbreak.

“Right now, evidence points to this being a one-off case,” Shah noted. Since March, bird flu has impacted over 200 dairy herds across 14 states, as per the U.S. Department of Agriculture.