What Avian Flu Found in Michigan Means for Public Health

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has confirmed a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5) in a farmworker, marking the second instance linked to U.S. dairy cows. This development has significant implications for public health monitoring and biosecurity measures on farms.

The affected individual worked on a farm and had frequent contact with infected livestock. According to MDHHS, the person experienced minor eye symptoms but has since recovered. Specific details about the individual and the farm have not been disclosed. A nasal swab from the individual tested negative for the virus, but an eye swab returned positive, indicating an eye infection, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In addition to this case, three more dairy herds in Michigan have tested positive for bird flu. Health officials have classified the infection as “sporadic” with no evidence of person-to-person transmission, minimizing the immediate public health threat.

The first dairy-related case of avian flu in a human was reported in Texas in late March, marking the first known global instance of this bird flu variant infecting a person through mammalian transmission. That patient, like the one in Michigan, experienced only eye inflammation and recovered fully. In 2022, a prison inmate in Colorado contracted the virus while culling infected poultry, experiencing only fatigue before recovery.

Since 2020, avian flu viruses have been spreading among various animal species, including dogs, cats, skunks, bears, and marine mammals, across numerous countries. The recent detection of avian flu in U.S. livestock has raised concerns about food safety and the potential for the virus to spread among humans.

This spring, bird flu has been identified in multiple dairy herds and poultry farms across Michigan. The state’s public health officials have been proactive in their response, closely monitoring the situation since influenza A (H5N1) was first detected in Michigan’s poultry and dairy herds.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive, emphasized the state’s swift public health response. “Michigan has led a swift public health response, and we have been tracking this situation closely since influenza A (H5N1) was detected in poultry and dairy herds in Michigan,” she stated. Farmworkers exposed to affected animals have been urged to report even mild symptoms, and testing for the virus has been made readily available. “The current health risk to the general public remains low. This virus is being closely monitored, and we have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission at this point,” Dr. Bagdasarian added, highlighting the importance of early detection and monitoring in public health efforts.

In response to the outbreak, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Tim Boring issued a “Determination of Extraordinary Emergency” order at the beginning of the month. This order requires dairy farms and commercial poultry operations to implement additional biosecurity measures to combat avian flu.

“Since the first detection of influenza A (H5N1) in dairy cattle on March 29, Michigan has prioritized both the animal and human health aspects of this disease outbreak,” Boring stated. “Today’s news underscores the continued importance of limiting nonessential farm visits, including farm tours and field trips, as well as the use of personal protective equipment when working with livestock.”

This story was originally featured on QC News