Public well being officers are investigating the primary human case of H5 chook flu detected in Los Angeles County, it was announced today.
The sufferer, an grownup who was uncovered at a worksite to livestock contaminated with H5 chook flu, has been handled with antivirals and is recovering at house, in line with the county Department of Public Health.
The total threat of H5 chook flu to the general public stays low, and there may be at the moment no proof of person-to-person unfold of the virus, DPH stated.
Close contacts of the contaminated individual and different employees uncovered on the worksite are being monitored for signs and have been provided private protecting tools, testing and antiviral prophylaxis, the division stated. DPH stated no further instances have been recognized right now.
Public Health stated it’s working carefully with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Department of Public Health on the continued investigation.
“People not often get chook flu, however those that work together with contaminated livestock or wildlife have a better threat of an infection,” Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County well being officer, stated in an announcement.
“This case reminds us to take fundamental precautions to forestall being uncovered,” he stated. “People ought to keep away from unprotected contact with sick or useless animals together with cows, poultry, and wild birds; keep away from consuming uncooked or undercooked animal merchandise, corresponding to uncooked milk; and defend pets and yard poultry from publicity to wild animals.”
Davis additionally pressured the significance of getting the seasonal flu vaccine, which might help forestall extreme seasonal flu sickness and decrease the chance of getting each seasonal and chook flu infections on the identical time if uncovered.
Symptoms of H5 chook flu in people embody eye redness or discharge, fever, cough or problem respiratory, sore throat, muscle or physique aches, diarrhea and vomiting, in line with DPH, which stated individuals working with contaminated animals, together with cows, poultry, or wildlife, proceed to be at increased threat of publicity to H5 chook flu.
