Statement On Potential Bird Flu Risk Released By CT Officials

CONNECTICUT — Despite the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N1) virus reported in Texas over the weekend in a person exposed to an infected dairy cow, state public health and agriculture officials say there are no cases reported in any cattle or other livestock in Connecticut.

In a news release provided the Department of Public Health, officials said the patient in Texas, who experienced eye inflammation as their only symptom and is clinically improving, was tested for flu late last week with confirmatory testing performed by the CDC over the weekend.

DPH officials said the patient is being treated with the antiviral drug Oseltamivir and the case does not change the risk to the general public, which remains low.

Officials also stressed the state's commercial milk supply is safe due to the pasteurization process required for interstate commerce.

According to CDC's interim recommendations, people should avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds and other wild or domesticated animals like cattle, as well as with animal carcasses, raw milk, feces, litter or materials contaminated by birds or other animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection.

See also: 2024 Bird Flu: What To Know About Current Risk To Humans

The CDC warns not to prepare or eat uncooked or undercooked food or related uncooked food products such as unpasteurized "raw" milk or products made from raw milk, such as cheeses from animals with confirmed or suspected HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection.

"This is an evolving situation in Texas," DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani said in a news release. "The current risk of infection from avian influenza to residents of Connecticut remains low. Because pasteurization kills pathogens, including avian influenza, in milk, residents of Connecticut should be reassured by the safety of drinking or eating pasteurized dairy products. While we have no evidence of human-to-human transmission at this time, we need to remain vigilant."

Juthani added that while seasonal flu vaccines do not provide protection against HPAI A(H5N1)-virus infection, the CDC is working with state health departments to continue to monitor workers who may have been in contact with infected or potentially infected birds and animals and test those people who develop symptoms.

The CDC also has guidance for clinicians on monitoring, testing and antiviral treatment for patients with suspected or confirmed avian influenza A virus infections, DPH officials said.

According to the CDC, this is the second human case of H5N1 flu in the United States and the first linked to an exposure to cattle.

On March 25, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC confirmed positive test results for highly pathogenic avian influenza in Texas and Kansas dairy herds.

Based on the information and research available, there is no concern about the safety of the commercial milk supply or that this circumstance poses a risk to consumer health, DPH officials said.

Officials also noted dairies are required to send only milk from healthy animals into processing for human consumption and milk from affected animals is not entering the food supply. Pasteurization has continually proven to inactivate bacteria and viruses, like influenza, in milk.

"At this time, there are no confirmed cases of H5N1 in dairy cattle or other livestock in Connecticut. We are monitoring this situation as it evolves nationally and continue to amplify the information shared from federal partners on a local level," Connecticut DoAg Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt said in a news release. "We encourage Connecticut producers to enhance their on-farm biosecurity measures for the health and safety of livestock and farm workers."

In addition to enhancing biosecurity, Hurlburt added that producers and veterinarians should report cases of sick cattle to state animal health officials at 860-713-2505 or ctstate.vet@ct.gov.