Published: 14:18, February 11, 2025
US dairy worker infected with new virus strain of bird flu
By Xinhua
A sign lets shoppers know about possible egg shortages at a grocery store in Glendale, California on Jan 6, 2025. Bird flu, a disrupted supply chain and other factors have contributed to a sharp increase in egg prices in California. (PHOTO / AFP)

LOS ANGELES - The United States has confirmed its first human case with a new strain of the bird flu virus in a diary worker, health authorities said Monday.

The infection in Nevada is the state's first and only human case of avian influenza with the H5N1 virus, said the Central Nevada Health District in a release.

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The person was infected after being exposed to infected dairy cattle while working at a farm in Churchill County. The person had conjunctivitis, commonly known as "pink eye," with no other reported symptoms, and is recovering. No additional cases have been confirmed at this time.

The release came days after a second strain of bird flu virus was detected in Nevada dairy cows, known as D1.1, which was previously only found in wild birds and poultry.

READ MORE: First human bird flu death in US reported

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers the health risk to the public of the H5N1 avian influenza to be low. There is currently no evidence of person-to-person spread of this virus.

There have been 68 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu infection in the United States since 2024, including one death, according to the CDC.