The United States has confirmed a second case of avian influenza in humans, with a person being diagnosed with the disease after contact with poultry.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced yesterday that a dairy worker in the state of Michigan has become the second human case related to the current outbreak.
The worker exhibited symptoms in their eyes resembling conjunctivitis.
The H5N1 virus was first detected in dairy cows in late March, according to the US Department of Agriculture, with wild birds suspected to have transmitted the infection to the cattle.
In April, the first human case through a dairy cow was confirmed in a dairy product worker in Texas who had been in contact with suspected infected dairy cows.
However, the risk of human infection remains low.
Avian influenza is now one of the foremost global health challenges, with the world experiencing the largest wave of documented cases ever, spreading across the globe. While primarily affecting birds, it can also infect mammals, including cats, bears, and seals.
According to the CDC, human symptoms can vary from eye and respiratory infections to serious illnesses such as pneumonia, which can be life-threatening.
Health experts warn that the virus could adapt to facilitate human-to-human transmission, increasing its threat level.
