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Bird Flu: First Human Case WITHOUT Animal Contact!

Remember when we thought COVID wouldn’t be a big deal?

It started with isolated cases, strange reports, and assurances that everything was “under control.” But before we knew it, the world was dealing with a full-blown pandemic.

Now, history may be repeating itself.

In breaking news, the United States has reported the first human case of bird flu with no known animal trace.

That’s right—a person in Missouri has tested positive for the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), and they have no contact with animals that would explain how they got it. This is the first case of its kind.

We at e-Alert have warned you before about bird flu jumping from animals to humans, and we urged you to stay vigilant—but not to panic.

Now, it’s time to double down on that vigilance. This situation is exactly how pandemics can start. Let’s not let that happen again.

The Alarming Details

On August 22, an adult in Missouri was hospitalized after testing positive for a strain of influenza A that didn’t match any known human subtype.

Further testing revealed it was avian flu—currently spreading across birds and mammals worldwide, including in the US, Europe, South America, and beyond.

Here’s the kicker: this person had no direct contact with birds or any other animals. Until now, all human bird flu cases in the US have been traced back to infected poultry or livestock. So how did this patient contract the virus?

That’s the big mystery the CDC is desperately trying to solve.

The virus doesn’t seem to have spread to anyone else around the patient, and public health officials are maintaining that the risk of human-to-human transmission is still “low.”

But does that sound familiar? Early reports from COVID-19 said the same thing.

What We Know – and What We Don’t

Right now, the CDC is working to sequence the virus’s genome, hoping to learn how it may have adapted to infect mammals—including us. While this case remains isolated, the fact that the virus found its way to a human with no known exposure to infected animals is concerning.

As Deputy CDC Director Nirav Shah noted earlier this summer, “If we were to see individuals with no connection to a farm or chicken exposure developing symptoms, that would be greatly concerning.” Well, here we are.

The patient in Missouri has thankfully recovered, but we can’t ignore the warning signs. While the CDC is reassuring us that the general public is still at low risk, we know how quickly things can change.

The virus could be mutating, and if it starts spreading human-to-human, the threat level could rise faster than we expect.

What You Can Do to Protect Yourself

We’ve learned some hard lessons from COVID. One of them is this: don’t wait until it’s too late.

Take proactive steps now to protect yourself and your loved ones:

  1. Boost Your Immune System: Make sure your immune defenses are strong. Load up on immunity-boosting supplements like vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc. Consider elderberry, echinacea, and probiotics to support your overall immune health.
  2. Practice Good Hygiene: Wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your face, especially when out in public. Hand sanitizers with at least 60% alcohol can help when soap and water aren’t available.
  3. Stay Updated on Vaccines: While there’s no vaccine for bird flu, keeping up with seasonal flu vaccines and other immunizations is important for maintaining your health and reducing your vulnerability to respiratory infections.
  4. Limit Contact with Raw or Unpasteurized Foods: If you consume raw or unpasteurized milk, now is the time to stop. Avoiding undercooked poultry and eggs is also a good precaution, especially given the ongoing bird flu outbreak in livestock.
  5. Monitor Health Alerts: Stay informed through reliable health sources like the CDC or our e-Alert updates. As we’ve seen, situations like these can evolve quickly. The more informed you are, the better prepared you’ll be.

Yes, it’s alarming. Yes, it feels like déjà vu. But don’t panic—just stay prepared. By keeping informed and taking steps to strengthen your defenses, you can arm yourself against potential threats like this one.

We know the risks, and we’ve been through this before. Let’s make sure we’re ready this time.

The time to act is now.

To staying ahead of the curve,

Rachel Mace
Managing Editorial Director, e-Alert
with contributions from the research team

Sources:

Cassella, C. (2024, September 9). US Confirms First Human Case of Bird Flu With No Known Animal Trace. ScienceAlert. https://www.sciencealert.com/us-confirms-first-human-case-of-bird-flu-with-no-known-animal-trace

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