Michigan Farmworker Diagnosed With Avian Flu

The New York Times (5/22, Mandavilli, Anthes) reports, “A farmworker in Michigan has been diagnosed with bird flu, state officials announced on Wednesday, making it the second human case associated with the outbreak in cows.” Authorities “said that the individual became infected with the virus, called H5N1, after exposure to infected livestock.” The patient “had only mild symptoms and has fully recovered, officials said.” The AP (5/22, Aleccia, Stobbe) reports the worker “experienced mild eye symptoms and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan health officials said in announcing the case Wednesday.” The public health risk “remains low, but farmworkers exposed to infected animals are at higher risk, health officials said.” Reuters (5/22, Polansek, Steenhuysen, Douglas) reports, “The CDC told reporters on a call it has not seen evidence of human to human transmission of bird flu and that it tested close to 40 people since March, including the Michigan worker. All the people who were tested were connected to or had exposures on a dairy farm, the CDC said.”