Wyoming Reports Its First Human H5N1 Avian Flu Infection

By Mary Van Beusekom

A woman living in Platte County has contracted Wyoming's first case of H5N1 avian flu and is the fourth American to be hospitalized for the virus, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) confirmed late last week.

The infected woman is hospitalized in another state, is older, has underlying medical conditions, and was likely exposed to H5N1 through contact with her infected backyard poultry flock. "H5N1 has been known to be infecting wild birds in Wyoming for some time now with the currently circulating virus spreading nationally since 2022," the WDH said in a press release. "Infections among poultry and dairy cattle have also occurred previously in Wyoming."

A total of 70 people are now known to have been infected with H5N1 in the United States in the past year, most of whom had contact with sick poultry or cattle. Most cases have been mild, although a patient in Louisiana died.

"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," Alexia Harrist, MD, PhD, state health officer and WDH epidemiologist, said.

Risk to people considered low

No human-to-human H5N1 transmission has been documented, and officials have followed up with people exposed to the patient and flock, Harrist said. "Experts continue to track the spread of H5N1 through wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle across the country," she said. " A small number of people have also been infected. Unfortunately, this patient's experience has been much more serious."

She advised against eating raw or undercooked meat or eggs, handling sick wild or domestic birds, and consuming raw (unpasteurized) milk or dairy products.