Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) (H5N1)
On April 5, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a health advisory regarding Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus: Identification of Human Infection and Recommendations for Investigations and Response. This advisory noted that a farmer working on a commercial dairy farm in Texas, tested positive for HPAI A (H5N1) infection. The advisory stated that the current risk to the public remains low while also providing recommendations to the public, the farmer, and the clinician for infection control, testing, patient monitoring, and treatment.
On April 29, 2024, Region VII Disaster Health Response Ecosystem presented a Region 7 Special Pathogen Outbreak Report: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza webinar. Objectives for this include identifying the characteristics and origin of HPAI, modes of transmission, and current guidance for healthcare facilities and clinicians.
If your laboratory receives a call from a clinician regarding the testing of a patient with suspected HPAI direct them to their state or local health department for approval. Once approval is received, send an appropriate specimen to NPHL for testing. Since the previous-positive patient reported conjunctivitis, a conjunctival specimen would be acceptable to send along with nasopharyngeal swabs.
Also, if a laboratory performs influenza testing by a molecular mean and receives a result of Influenza A, no subtype, notify the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, and subsequently send the specimen to NPHL for further subtyping.
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