Missouri Patient Contracts H5N1 Bird Flu

A patient in Missouri has tested positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus, marking the first human case in the U.S. without known contact with infected animals. The CDC is investigating the source of the infection, as the patient had no contact with poultry, cattle, or raw dairy products. Another household member fell ill on the same day but tested negative for the virus, raising concerns about potential human-to-human transmission, though no evidence supports this yet. Bird flu has been detected in wastewater samples across Texas, suggesting the virus is adapting to new hosts, including humans. Health officials emphasize that the risk to the general public remains low, with no confirmed onward transmission from the Missouri case. The CDC continues to monitor the situation closely to prevent a potential pandemic.