Business and Finance Business and Finance
Fri, January 17, 2025
Thu, January 16, 2025

US CDC recommends faster testing for bird flu in hospitalized patients


Published on 2025-01-16 16:00:56 - Reuters
  Print publication without navigation

  • People hospitalized for flu should be tested for bird flu within 24 hours, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday, in an expansion of the agency's efforts to tackle increasing infections in humans.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued new guidelines recommending faster testing for bird flu in hospitalized patients, effective from January 16, 2025. This decision comes in response to the increasing number of bird flu cases globally and the potential for human transmission. The CDC advises that patients with severe respiratory illness, particularly those with a history of exposure to infected birds or poultry, should be tested promptly for the H5N1 virus. The guidelines aim to enhance surveillance, improve early detection, and facilitate quicker response measures to prevent potential outbreaks. Additionally, the CDC emphasizes the importance of healthcare providers being vigilant for symptoms of avian influenza, especially in regions where the virus is circulating among poultry.

Read the Full Reuters Article at:
[ https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-cdc-recommends-faster-testing-bird-flu-hospitalized-patients-2025-01-16/ ]
Contributing Sources