The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed Missouri’s first human case of avian influenza A (H5), which was detected through the state’s surveillance program.
The patient, an adult with underlying medical conditions, had no contact with animals and was hospitalized on Aug. 22 and later discharged after recovery. The Missouri State Public Health Laboratory identified the H5 subtype, commonly known as bird flu, which the CDC confirmed.
Despite this case, the risk of sustained transmission to the general public remains low, and further virus characterization is underway, the agency said.
