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Volume 29, Number 6—June 2023
Dispatch

Risk for Infection in Humans after Exposure to Birds Infected with Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N1) Virus, United States, 2022

Krista Kniss1Comments to Author , Kelsey M. Sumner1, Katie J. Tastad, Nathaniel M. Lewis, Lauren Jansen, Derek Julian, Mike Reh, Emily Carlson, Robin Williams, Samir Koirala, Bryan Buss, Matthew Donahue, Jennifer Palm, Leslie Kollmann, Stacy Holzbauer, Min Z. Levine, Todd Davis, John R. Barnes, Brendan Flannery, Lynnette Brammer, and Alicia Fry
Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (K. Kniss, K.M. Sumner, K.J. Tastad, N.M. Lewis, L. Jansen, M. Reh, B. Buss, S. Holzbauer, M.Z. Levine, T. Davis, J.R. Barnes, B. Flannery, L. Brammer, A. Fry); Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA (L. Jansen, D. Julian, M. Reh, E. Carlson, R. Williams, S. Koirala, B. Buss, M. Donahue); Minnesota Department of Health, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA (J. Palm, L. Kollmann, S. Holzbauer)

Main Article

Table

Characteristics of exposed persons monitored and tested for influenza A(H5) virus after exposure to highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) virus–infected birds, United States, February 7–September 3, 2022*

Characteristic Met jurisdiction-level active monitoring criteria Completed 10-day monitoring period Tested through surveillance Expressed interest in asymptomatic and symptomatic serologic surveillance
Total
 4,351 (100)
 3,658 (100)
 154 (100)
 26 (100)
Demographic characteristics
Median age (range), y 40 (0.5–79) 40.5 (9–73)
Sex
M 13 (50)
F
13 (50)
Symptomatic†
134 (93)
 11 (42)
Hospitalized
0
 0
Exposure category
Farm worker or owner and other nonresponders 1,219 (28) 1,114 (30) 36 (27)‡
Responders§ 2,072 (48) 1,839 (50) 76 (57)‡
Other, e.g., wildlife, veterinarian, laboratorian 87 (2) 86 (2) 22 (16)‡
Unknown 973 (22) 619 (17) 0‡

*Values are no. (%) except as indicated. †Having >1 symptoms compatible with A(H5) infection: fever or feeling feverish or chills; cough; sore throat; runny or stuffy nose; eye tearing, redness, irritation (pink eye); sneezing; difficulty breathing; shortness of breath; fatigue (feeling very tired); muscle or body aches; headaches; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; seizures; or rash. Ten exposed but asymptomatic persons and 10 persons without symptom history available had respiratory specimens collected under their jurisdiction’s discretion or in conjunction with follow-up to the single human case detected. ‡Exposure category information only collected through surveillance for persons who reported being symptomatic. §Defined as persons responsible for performing response activities such as culling, cleaning, and decontaminating infected premises.

Main Article

1These first authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: April 13, 2023
Page updated: May 17, 2023
Page reviewed: May 17, 2023
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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