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CDC: US sees 13 human cases of H5N1 since April

H5N1 cases in dairy herds and poultry flocks continues to grow, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

H5 N1
JegasRa | BigStock.com

Thirteen human cases of H5N1 virus infection have been reported in the United States since April, according to an August 16 update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Four of these cases were associated with exposure to sick dairy cows and nine were associated with exposure to H5N1 virus-infected poultry. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that 191 dairy cow herds in 13 U.S. states have confirmed cases of H5N1, and this number continues to grow. Since April, there have been H5N1 detections in 35 commercial flocks and 21 backyard flocks, for a total of 18.68 million birds affected.

Based on the information available at this time, CDC’s assessment is that the immediate risk to the general public from H5N1 remains low.