Second Health Care Worker Linked to Missouri Bird Flu Case Also Had Symptoms: CDC

MONDAY, Sept. 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Another health care worker who was exposed to a Missouri patient who tested positive for bird flu developed respiratory symptoms but wasn't tested for the flu, U.S.

health officials reported Friday. The news is rekindling worries of person-to-person transmission of the H5N1 bird flu strain. The week before, the U.

S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that a different health care worker who cared for the bird flu patient developed mild respiratory symptoms and tested negative for influenza. Meanwhile, a person who lives with the Missouri patient also became sick but was not tested for the flu at the time.

The experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, the CDC said, which can be associated with an influenza infection. "As part of the ongoing contact investigation, Missouri identified one additional health care worker contact who had developed mild respiratory symptoms and was not tested for influenza as the illness had resolved before the investigation began," the CDC said in its latest . The bird flu patient who didn’t have known contact with poultry or dairy cows, was first hospitalized in August and tested positive for the bird flu virus.

The person, who had underlying medical conditions, has since recovered, the CDC said in a on the case. However, earlier this month, CDC Principal Deputy Director stated on a that none of the patient’s close contacts showed signs or symptoms of illness, calling the case a possible �.