Healthline: Avian flu outbreak in the US: What to know right now
UC expert says transmission to humans, while rare, can be serious
Health experts in the United States are monitoring an increase in cases of bird flu in several states, including Indiana, Kentucky and Virginia. In January, the United States Department of Agriculture detected the first U.S. bird flu case after a hunted wild bird tested positive for the virus in Colleton County, South Carolina.
Experts reported that it was the H5N1 strain, a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus — the same strain responsible for fatal poultry outbreaks across Europe and Asia in late 2021.
In a story on the increase in bird flu published by Healthline, Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the UC College of Medicine was one of the experts cited.
Carl Fichtenbaum, MD, of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the UC College of Medicine/Photo/Joe Fuqua II/ UC Creative + Brand
Experts say the bird flu is an infectious disease, particularly within different bird populations.
“It is influenza season and not a surprise that some flocks are infected with influenza. It may have spread to other areas but has not yet been tested or identified,” said Fichtenbaum.
“Indiana borders Kentucky, so one might hypothesize that regional spread is possible, but this does not explain why in Virginia,” Fichtenbaum added.
However, Fichtenbaum recommends further surveillance monitoring to accurately determine the spread’s cause.
Experts stress that transmissions to humans are rare, but they can be fatal when they occur.
According to Fichtenbaum, “The H5N1 strain has been known to infect humans and cause a more severe form of bird influenza.”
Fichtenbaum said there is a chance that a strain can move into the human population and spread more widely.
Lead photo/Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Next Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is classified as a Research 1 institution by the Carnegie Commission and is ranked in the National Science Foundation's Top-35 public research universities. UC's medical, graduate and undergraduate students and faculty investigate problems and innovate solutions with real-world impact. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
UC professor Ephraim Gutmark elected to National Academy of...
December 20, 2024
Ephraim Gutmark, distinguished professor of aerospace engineering at the University of Cincinnati, was elected to the 2024 class of the prestigious National Academy of Inventors.
Should voters have more say in Ohio's Legislature?
December 19, 2024
UC Professor David Niven talks to WVXU about gerrymandering in Ohio.
What happens when you give co-op students 90 minutes to make a...
December 19, 2024
UC DAAP students on co-op at the Rockwell Group, an architecture firm in Manhattan, are featured in a Wall Street Journal article about the firm's gingerbread house competition. Check out their gingerbread replica of UC's Crosley Tower.