Missouri: Human case of avian influenza A (H5) confirmed, 14th case in the US in 2024
Missouri health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report the confirmation of a human case of avian influenza A (H5) case, the first in the state.
The case was identified through the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service’s (DHSS) ongoing influenza surveillance program. The Missouri State Public Health Laboratory was sent a specimen from a patient who was hospitalized on Aug. 22. The adult patient has underlying medical conditions and tested positive for influenza A. The patient has reported no exposure to animals. The patient has recovered and was discharged home. To ensure patient privacy is maintained, no additional patient information will be provided.
As part of the normal influenza surveillance testing program, the Missouri State Public Health Laboratory conducted additional testing to determine the influenza subtype. This resulted in the presumptive detection of the H5 subtype. The specimen was forwarded to CDC for additional testing and was confirmed as H5 subtype of flu, also known as a bird flu, or avian flu.
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Identification of the neuraminidase (the "N") in the patient specimen is pending further sequencing. Attempts to sequence the genome of the virus also are underway at CDC.
This is the 14th human case of H5 reported in the United States during 2024—Colorado (10), Michigan (2) and Texas (1)— and the first case of H5 without a known occupational exposure to sick or infected animals. H5 outbreaks in cattle have not been reported in Missouri, but outbreaks of H5 have been reported in commercial and backyard poultry flocks in 2024. H5N1 bird flu has been detected in wild birds in that state in the past.