Person in Missouri Tests Positive for Bird Flu with No Known Animal Exposure

A person in Missouri with no reported exposure to animals has been confirmed to have contracted H5-type bird flu. The individual, who has underlying medical conditions, was hospitalized on August 22 and tested positive for an influenza A virus, which was later confirmed to be an H5 strain. The patient received antiviral treatment and has since recovered. This case marks the 14th human case of bird flu in the US in 2024. It is the first reported instance of a person contracting bird flu without known contact with an animal.