Thread by @NightShiftMD

A thread on H5N1. H5N1 is a subtype of avian influenza that mainly infects birds, but has been identified in other animals and has caused sporadic infections in humans. 1/n

Current or recent outbreaks have been detected in domestic and wild birds and some mammals across Canada, the US, Europe, as well as Central and South America.2/n

As of the afternoon of Dec 11th, 774 dairy herds have tested positive for H5N1 across 16 US states. The virus has also been showing up more frequently in wastewater in the US. 3/n aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poul…

Close to 60 human cases of H5N1 have been reported across seven US states in the past few months. A BC teen was infected with H5N1 but there’s no evidence it’s the same strain that has infected US dairy farms. 4/nhttps://www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/health/canada-bird-flu/index.html

The virus mainly affects the respiratory tract but can also cause gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea as well as headaches. H5N1 infection can progress to severe illness and death. 5/n

Doctors say conjunctivitis or inflammation of the inner lining of the eyelids also appears to be a common symptom at present. 6/n

At present, there is no evidence that the current strains of H5N1 can spread from person to person. However, that could change fairly readily should the virus mutate. 6/n

A study published in Science suggested that a strain of H5N1 might be as little as one mutation from being able to spread readily from person to person. 7/n science.org/doi/10.1126/sc…

Antiviral medications that are readily available can be prescribed to treat H5N1. However, there have been no clinical trials measuring their effectiveness against current strains of avian flu affecting humans. 8/n

There is no H5N1 influenza vaccine available in Canada for public use yet. Recently, the UK ordered more than five million doses of an avian flu vaccine from a local vaccine manufacturer as part of its pandemic mitigation strategy. 9/n bmj.com/content/387/bm…