Bird Flu Detected in a Human for First Time in Iowa

By Cami Koons

The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday the state’s first human case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza. 

According to a press release from the department, the individual is a commercial poultry worker who was exposed by a flock in northwest Iowa. 

Earlier this week, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship announced the 11th detection of the virus in poultry flocks this year, following a string of detections that began in early December. 

The press release did not say from which county the individual worked, but the bird flu has been detected in Sioux, Palo Alto, Sac, O’Brien Monona, and Worth counties this month. 

The HHS release said the individual reported mild symptoms, received “appropriate treatment” and is recovering. 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 64 cases have been detected in humans in the U.S., though the CDC website did not list the Iowa case as of Friday at 6 p.m. 

At this time, the CDC and Iowa HHS have said the public health risk remains low as there is “no evidence” that human-to-human transmission is occurring. 

The first severe case of the bird flu in a human in the U.S. was detected in Louisiana on Wednesday.

Earlier on Friday, pathologists from the College of American Pathologists discussed ongoing work to monitor the H5N1 avian influenza as it continues to replicate and mutate in various hosts. They noted the actual number of human cases is likely higher than what has been detected by the CDC.

“Iowa has monitored the spread of avian influenza closely since it was first detected in poultry in the state in 2022, and our state is prepared with the established knowledge, strong partnerships, and effective tools to mitigate its impact on our community,” State Medical Director Robert Kruse said in the HHS press release.

Iowa HHS urged individuals who are in direct contact with sick or dead poultry or dairy cattle to wear personal protective equipment. 

Individuals in direct contact with poultry or cattle should also visit their doctors if they develop flu-like symptoms or an eye infection. 

State and federal agencies maintain there is no risk in eating poultry or dairy products but remind consumers to cook poultry to an internal temperature of 165 and consume only pasteurized dairy products.

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