Two Hospitalized with Bird Flu in Wyoming, Ohio Amid Outbreak

Two cases of H5N1 bird flu have been reported in the U.S., with one patient hospitalized in Wyoming and the other in Ohio. The Wyoming patient, an older woman with underlying health conditions, contracted the virus after exposure to poultry in a backyard flock, while the Ohio patient was infected while depopulating H5N1-positive poultry and has since been released from the hospital. These cases highlight concerns about the potential for a more dangerous virus to emerge due to reassortment between bird flu and seasonal flu strains, especially amid a severe flu season. Public health officials emphasize that the risk to humans remains low, particularly if poultry products are properly cooked. Meanwhile, the Washington State Department of Agriculture has linked two local cat infections to a recalled cat food product, with health alerts issued regarding symptoms in pets. Currently, no human infections have been linked to the pet food, but health officials continue to monitor the situation carefully.