Wyoming Reports First Case of Avian Influenza

Wyoming has recorded its first case of H5N1 (avian influenza) in a person last week. The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) confirmed it happened in an older woman in Platte County. The test result was confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).¹

Alexia Harrist, MD, PhD, state health officer and state epidemiologist with WDH, said the woman is hospitalized in another state, has health conditions that can make her more vulnerable, and was likely exposed to the virus through direct contact with an infected poultry flock at her home. No more information on the patient was given and she represents the third hospitalization related to H5N1 in the US.¹

“Experts continue to track the spread of H5N1 through wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle across the country. A small number of people have also been infected. Most of those confirmed cases involved on-the-job close contact with poultry or cattle and mild symptoms,” Harrist said. “Unfortunately, this patient’s experience has been much more serious.”¹

Harrist said the current public health risk is low. “While this is a significant development as bird flu activity is monitored in Wyoming and across the country, it is not something we believe requires a high level of concern among most Wyoming residents.”¹

Avian Influenza Cases in the US

As of February 14, there have been 68 cases of avian influenza in the country. Despite its name, the majority of cases have come from dairy herds, with 41 of them coming from cattle. The next largest exposure comes from poultry and culling operation with 23 cases. There is 1 exposure coming from another animal and 3 from unknown sources.²

The CDC says the current public health risk is low, but the federal agency is watching the situation carefully and working with states to monitor people with animal exposures.²

There have been reports the Trump Administration plans to cut CDC personnel including its Laboratory Leadership Service, which trains public health laboratory staffers and supports outbreak responses. Termination emails were sent out over the weekend. Additionally, the administration is planning to lay off staff from the CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service, which are known as the disease detectives. It remains to be seen when these layoffs will happen, and what effect this could have on disease surveillance.³

References
1. Wyoming’s First Human Bird Flu Case Confirmed. WDH. February 14, 2025. Accessed February 17, 2025.
https://health.wyo.gov/wyomings-first-human-bird-flu-case-confirmed/
2. H5 Bird Flu: Current Situation. CDC. February 14, 2025. Accessed February 17, 2025.
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html
3. Zadrozny B, Egwuonwu N. CDC 'disease detectors' among hundreds fired as Trump administration ramps up agency cuts. NBC News. February 16, 2025. Accessed February 17, 2025.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/doge/cdc-disease-detectors-fired-trump-administration-agency-cuts-doge-rcna192420