Bird flu virus possibly found in a handful of wastewater sites, CDC says – AOL

Theres no solid evidence that bird flu is spreading among people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday amid an outbreak of the virus in dairy cows.

New data from 189 of the agencys wastewater sampling sites showed that as of May 4, an influenza A virus had been detected at higher-than-average levels in a handful of sites across the country, including in Alaska, California, Florida, Illinois and Kansas.

The bird flu currently circulating in cows, called H5N1, is a type of influenza A.

Just one site, in Saline County, Kansas, showed notably high levels of flu virus for this time of the year. Four herds in Kansas tested positive in April, the CDC said.

Its unclear whether the Kansas wastewater samples were limited to human waste or whether they included runoff water from farms. Its also unclear whether the high levels of virus in the wastewater indicate infections in humans, cows, birds or other animals. There hasnt been any unusual uptick in flu-like illnesses in recent weeks, the CDC said.

Wed really like to understand what might be driving that influenza A increase during what we consider the lower transmission season for influenza A, said Jonathan Yoder, deputy director of the CDCs division of infectious disease readiness and innovation.

A representative from one of Saline Countys major hospitals didnt respond to a request for comment.

Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease expert and an associate professor of medicine at the Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina, said the new CDC data is actually pretty reassuring.

Were in the middle of May, he said, when there isnt naturally a lot of flu. Wolfe said he isnt seeing any uptick in flu-like illnesses in his medical practice.

As of Tuesday, 42 herds in nine states Kansas, Colorado, Idaho, Michigan, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas had been affected.

The agency is monitoring 260 people who have been exposed to infected dairy cows for flu-like symptoms. Thirty-three people have been tested for the virus. So far just one person a dairy farm worker in Texas has been diagnosed with bird flu connected to the dairy cow outbreak. He developed a severe case of conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, and has recovered.

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Bird flu virus possibly found in a handful of wastewater sites, CDC says - AOL