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Bird flu reported in second Michigan farmworker, marking third human case in U.S.

May 30, 2024 Benjamin Hughes

Health official weighs in on Michigan first human case of bird flu

(CBS DETROIT) — A second case of H5 influenza, also known as bird flu or avian influenza, was detected in another Michigan farmworker, marking the second human case in Michigan and the third in the country overall.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services says the new case was reported in a farmworker who worked closely with cows that tested positive for bird flu. That worker was employed at a different farm than the worker in the case announced on May 22.

Officials say the risk to the general public is still low, and the farmworker who tested positive was given antivirals and is currently recovering from respiratory symptoms, including a cough and eye discomfort with a watery discharge. The worker did not have a fever, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

first case of bird flu in a human was detected in a Texas farmworker who was exposed to infected dairy cattle. 

Bird flu was first detected in Michigan in dairy herds that arrived in Michigan from Texas, and have since been found in Clinton, Gratiot and Ionia counties. 

Earlier this month, Michigan egg producer Herbuck’s Poultry Ranch announced that it was laying off about 400 employees. The company said the virus impacted its hen population at some farms in Ionia County. 

Guidelines issued for Michigan dairy farms

Michigan’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development issued guidelines for producers to help reduce the spread of avian influenza. 

Michigan dairy farms and poultry operations must implement the following, under the order that went into effect on May 8: 

• Designate a biosecurity manager
• Designate a line of separation to represent the perimeter of a secure area, limiting access points
• Establish cleaning and disinfection practices and procedures at those access points for both vehicles and individuals, including deliveries of feed and other supplies, and training for employees
• Establish a logbook maintaining a record of all vehicles and of individuals who have gotten out of vehicles and crossed those access points, to be retained and made available for examination upon request by MDARD.  

Sara Powers