CDC Expands Bird Flu Testing After Asymptomatic Infections Found in Dairy Workers

New guidelines recommend testing and antiviral treatment for farm workers exposed to H5N1, even without symptoms, to prevent virus spread.

A CDC study found that 7% of dairy workers in Michigan and Colorado exposed to infected cattle had bird flu antibodies, despite some having no symptoms.
The CDC now advises testing and offering Tamiflu to workers with high-risk exposure, even if they are asymptomatic, to curb potential virus spread.
The updated recommendations include enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE) guidelines for farm workers involved in high-risk activities.
The CDC's actions aim to prevent the virus from mutating and potentially becoming more transmissible among humans.
Concerns have been raised about undetected cases and the need for more robust monitoring and response to H5N1 outbreaks on farms.