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full screen The virus created bleeding in both of the man’s eyes. Photo: New England Journal Of Medicine
The man got bird flu from an infected cow.
A picture in a new report shows how he suffered bleeding in the eyes.
The experts are worried that the virus will mutate and spread uncontrollably between people.
The current outbreak of H5N1 bird flu has been ongoing since 2020.
The virus is said to be more contagious and more deadly than before.
From birds, the infection has spread to a number of other animals.
Infected by cow
Reports of a human being diagnosed with H5N1 after being infected by a sick cow hit like a bomb a few weeks ago.
The man was the second person in the United States to be infected by the virus.
He became ill after contracting the virus from infected cattle on the farm where he works.
Now doctors from the US public health authority CDC have compiled a report on the case which is being published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
In the report, an anonymous image of parts of the infected man’s face is attached.
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full screen The man who got bleeding in his eyes was infected by a cow. Photo: AP
Bleeding in the eyes
It states that the virus caused bleeding in both of his eyes. Fluid also flowed from the worse affected right eye.
According to the CDC, the man was wearing gloves, but no mouth guard or goggles, when working with the cows.
The virus should have only infected the eyes and fortunately not gone down to the lungs.
The man experienced no visual disturbances, no fever or other symptoms. The bleeding from the ruptured blood vessels disappeared after a few days, according to the report.
After the diagnosis, the man was asked to isolate himself and was treated with antiviral drugs.
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full screen Personnel in protective suits during an outbreak of bird flu in Bolivia. Photo: Juan Karita / AP
52 percent have died
The mild course is no guarantee that other people will get off just as easily, writes the New York Post.
According to the World Health Organization WHO, 52 percent of people infected with H5N1 since 2003 have died.
So far, the US public health authority assesses that the risk for the general public of being infected by bird flu is low.
But those who are close to or have prolonged exposure to infected birds or other animals are at greater risk.
However, everything changes if the virus mutates and begins to spread uncontrollably between people.
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fullscreen WHO’s chief scientist says the mortality rate is extra high because people lack natural immunity.
“Huge concern”
According to WHO chief scientist Jeremy Farrar, that risk increases the more mammals in our vicinity that become infected.
– This remains, I think, a huge concern, he said a couple of weeks ago.
– It is very important to know how many human infections occur because that is where the adaptation of the virus will take place. It’s a tragic thing to say, but if I get infected with H5N1 and die, that’s the end. If I go around the community and spread the word to someone else, a cycle is started.
So far, all humans who have contracted H5N1 have been infected by birds or other animals. Between 2003 and 2024, 889 human cases have been registered in 23 different countries. 463 of them died – just over 52 percent.
– The mortality rate is unusually high because people lack natural immunity to the virus, says Jeremy Farrar to The Guardian.