Volume 25, Number 5—May 2019
Dispatch
Estimating Risk to Responders Exposed to Avian Influenza A H5 and H7 Viruses in Poultry, United States, 2014–2017
, Jane A. Rooney, Lenee Blanton, Melissa A. Rolfes, Deborah I. Nelson, Thomas M. Gomez, Steven A. Karli, Susan C. Trock, and Alicia M. Fry
Table 2
Influenza virus detection in poultry and persons potentially exposed, ill and tested, United States, 2014–2017*
| Time | No. states | Virus | No. premises | No. domestic poultry | Total responders potentially exposed (by affiliation) | No. ill persons positive for avian influenza/no. tested (95% CI) | Other pathogens detected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2014–Jun 2015 | 15 | H5N2, H5N8, H5N1† | 242: all HPAI | 50.4 million | 3,962 (3,009 contractors, 773 USDA; 180 state/local) | 0/5 (0–0.001) | Not systematically collected |
| Jan 2016‡ | 1 | H7N8 | 9: 1 HPAI, 8 LPAI | 414,000 | 519§ (374 contractors; 78 USDA; 67 state/local) | 0/16¶ (0–0.007) | 1 coronavirus OC43, 1 rhino/enterovirus |
| Mar 2017 | 4 | H7N9 | 13: 2 HPAI, 11 LPAI | 272,000 | 74# (45 USDA; 29 state/local) | 0/2** (0–0.001) | 1 coronavirus, 1 influenza B virus |
*HPAI, highly pathogenic avian influenza; LPAI, low pathogenicity avian influenza; USDA, US Department of Agriculture.
†There were no data on persons potentially exposed in response to detection of reassortant H5N1 virus in wild birds. We were not able to differentiate the number of responders exposed to each virus separately.
‡https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/wr/mm6748a2.htm
§In response to the outbreak of infection with North American wild bird lineage H7N8 virus (LPAI that mutated to HPAI on 1 premise) in poultry in the United States during 2016. Median time a responder was on a premise was 14 d (range 1 d–44 d).
¶All 16 responders reported >1 sign or symptom: 2 had fever, 11 cough, 6 conjunctivitis, 7 sore throat, 4 rhinorrhea, 3 muscle ache, and 2 difficulty breathing. Of 11 with information, 9 (82%) were tested within 2 d of illness onset.
#In response to the outbreak of infection with North American wild bird lineage H7N9 virus (LPAI with 1 mutation to HPAI) in poultry in the United States during 2017. Median time a responder was on a premise was 5 d (range 2 d–41 d).
**One responder infected with coronavirus reported coughing and sneezing. One responder infected with influenza B virus reported having a fever. No other signs or symptoms were reported from responders.