Missouri Health Worker Shows Bird Flu Symptoms After Contact, CDC Responds

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Missouri health worker who came into contact with a patient infected with bird flu has developed mild respiratory symptoms, according to U.S. officials.
The individual was not tested for the virus, but it marks the second case of a healthcare worker in Missouri showing symptoms after contact with the bird flu patient.
The total number of people who had contact with the hospitalized bird flu patient in Missouri and subsequently developed symptoms has now reached three, all of whom have since recovered. Among these cases are a healthcare worker who tested negative for influenza, and a household contact who experienced symptoms at the same time as the patient but was also never tested for the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that serologic testing will be offered to the second healthcare worker to determine the presence of the bird flu virus.
This development underscores the ongoing concerns surrounding the potential spread of infectious diseases and the importance of healthcare workers taking necessary precautions. The situation in Missouri continues to be closely monitored by health officials, with a focus on early detection and containment measures to prevent further transmission of the virus.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.
(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)