Wyoming identifies first human case of avian influenza
USDA conditionally approves bird flu vaccine
17 February 2025
1 minute read
By: The Wyoming Department of Health said on Friday it has identified its first human case of H5N1 bird flu in the region, making it the third confirmed instance of hospitalisation related to the infection in the United States, reported Reuters.
"The woman is hospitalised in another state, has health conditions that can make people more vulnerable to illness, and was likely exposed to the virus through direct contact with an infected poultry flock at her home," Wyoming's state health officer Alexia Harrist said.
Avian influenza has infected nearly 70 people in the United States, with one death, since last April. Most of those infections have been among farm workers exposed to infected poultry or cows.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, has said the risk of infection to the general public is low.
Earlier in the day, the US Department of Agriculture gave a conditional approval to animal healthcare company Zoetis to use its bird flu vaccine in poultry.
