CDC urges faster testing to find human bird flu cases
The CDC on Thursday urged labs nationwide to determine within 24 hours of admission whether people hospitalized with the flu have seasonal influenza or are infected with the bird flu that's behind an escalating outbreak in dairy cows and poultry.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday urged labs nationwide to determine within 24 hours of admission whether people hospitalized with the flu have seasonal influenza or are infected with the bird flu that's behind an escalating outbreak in dairy cows and poultry.
The guidance for labs to do this type of testing has been in place since last fall, but the process has been slow, with many hospitals sending flu samples out for testing in bulk every few days.
By the time those results come back, patients have often already been sent home, Dr. Nirav Shah, the CDC’s principal deputy director, said during a media briefing Thursday.
That could hinder bird flu investigations. As days and weeks pass, it would be difficult for people to recall where they may have been exposed to the virus.
“The more time that goes by, the more memories fade and the harder it is to identify a potential source,” Shah said. What’s more, “their close contacts may be beyond the window for preventative medications like Tamiflu.”
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