Missouri Health Worker Who Had Contact With Bird Flu Patient Develops Symptoms, US Officials Report

Test tube is seen labelled "Bird Flu" in front of U.S. flag in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. (REUTERS/Dado Ruvic)

(Reuters) - A second Missouri healthcare worker who had contact with a hospitalized patient infected with bird flu developed mild respiratory symptoms but was not tested for the virus, U.S. officials said on Friday.

The number of people who were in contact with the hospitalized bird flu patient in Missouri and developed symptoms is now up to three, officials said. All three have recovered.

The other two symptomatic cases included a healthcare worker who tested negative for influenza and a household contact of the patient who developed symptoms at the same time as the hospitalized patient, but was never tested.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said serologic testing will be offered to the second healthcare worker.

 

(Reporting by Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)