The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that a person has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza HPAI A(H5N1) virus in the United States. The A(H5N1) positive individual is a person who had direct exposure to poultry as part of a poultry culling (depopulation) operation in Colorado. The current outbreak strain of avian influenza has been affecting wild birds and poultry in the U.S, since January 2022. This is the second human case of infection with HPAI A(H5N1) identified worldwide and the first case reported in the U.S. The CDC still considers the HPAI A(H5N1) threat level to humans to be low. People with work or recreational exposures to birds are at greater risk of infection and should follow recommended precautions.
As of May 10, 2022, there have been no human cases of HPAI A(H5N1) reported in the District of Columbia. The purpose of this Health Alert Notice is to provide situational updates and to notify healthcare providers of CDC’s recommendations for patient investigation, testing, and infection control. Healthcare providers should continue to monitor DC Health Alert Notice webpage for updates: dchealth.dc.gov/page/health-notices.