A death in Louisiana linked to exposure to backyard chickens marks the first human case of bird flu in the US, prompting concerns about the virus's spread. Experts warn that while current strains don't transmit between humans, mutations could change this, emphasizing the need for vigilance and preparedness. Federal and state agencies are increasing monitoring and testing, while a stockpile of vaccines exists for potential future use.
That death occurred when an individual in Louisiana was reportedly sickened after exposure to a backyard flock of chickens, the first such case reported in the United States. Dr. Robert Murphy, interim chief of Northwestern University’s Infectious Disease department, is urging federal and state officials to keep a wary eye on bird flu , and the implications of its spread.
Murphy warns that while the virus currently is not capable of human-to-human transmission, things can change quickly. More than five-dozen cases have been reported across the United States, primarily in the state of California. While the virus cannot spread between humans, people can get ill if they are in close proximity toMurphy does say there is a stockpile of vaccines that could help provide protection against the virus in the event it mutates into an illness that can transmit between humans, but cautioned that there isn’t enough supply to inoculate everyone that could need it.
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