The first case of influenza human birds of confirmed Wyoming
February 14, 2025
The first case of the H5N1 avian flu Wyoming in a human was confirmed in an older adult in Platte County, according to the Wyoming Ministry of Health (WDH). The woman represents the third confirmed hospitalization linked to H5N1 in the United States.
“Although it is an important development because the activity of the bird flu is monitored in Wyoming and across the country, it is not something which, in our view, requires a high level of concern Among most Wyoming residents, “said Dr. Alexia Harrist, state health manager and state epidemiologist with Wyoming Department of Health.
Harrist said women are hospitalized in another state, has health problems that can make people more vulnerable to illness and have probably been exposed to direct contact virus with a herd of poultry infected at home. H5N1 is known to infect wild birds in Wyoming for some time now with the currently circulating virus spreading to a national scale since 2022. Infections among poultry and dairy cattle have also occurred in Wyoming.
“Experts continue to follow the spread of H5N1 through wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle across the country. A small number of people have also been infected. Most of these confirmed cases involved close contact on work with poultry or cattle and light symptoms, “said Harrist. “Unfortunately, this patient’s experience was much more serious.”
“We want to remind people that there has been no transmission of documented human virus from this virus to the United States so far,” said Harrist. “Our staff followed with other people who had contacts with the herd and the patient, and will continue to work with national and national experts to carefully monitor the situation for Wyoming.”
Harrist noted that the current risk of public health is low, but there are certain stages of common sense that people can consider to help protect themselves and their families:
- Do not eat unsuccessful or subcuction food; Cook poultry, eggs and other animal products at the right temperature and avoid cross -contamination between raw and cooked foods.
- Avoid direct contact with wild birds.
- Avoid contact with wild or domestic birds that seem sick or dead. If symptoms are observed in birds, immediately contact a veterinarian or report sick birds with the Wyoming farm at 307-777-8270. If contact with sick or dead birds is necessary, the use of personal protective clothing and items is highly recommended.
- Avoid unprotected direct physical contact or close exposure with potentially infected or experienced cattle and materials to be infected with the bird flu.
- Do not eat and do not drink raw milk or raw milk products.
Salad or dead wild birds can be reported to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) by calling the 307-745-5865, reporting online to https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/7d0c547b8fa54eaca73f7eb37d06315a Or contact the closest WGFD regional office.
The test result was confirmed this afternoon by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) laboratory.
More information on the bird flu is available from the CDC in https://www.cdc.gov/bird-plu/index.html. More specific recommendations for people with poultry are available from CDC in https://www.cdc.gov/bird-plu/groups/index.html.