Third human bird flu case found in U.S.

JUN LI A Michigan farmworker has become the third person in the U.S. to test positive for influenza A, also known as bird flu, the state’s health officials announced Thursday.

The infection is the second human case linked to the current H5N1 outbreak of the virus in the state, after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) reported the first such case in another farmworker last week. According to reports, the second individual, whose identity was not revealed, worked at a different farm. The individual was treated with antivirals and is recovering from respiratory infections.

“With the first case in Michigan, eye symptoms occurred after a direct splash of infected milk to the eye. With this case, respiratory symptoms occurred after direct exposure to an infected cow,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan’s chief medical executive.

The U.S. vaccine stockpile against bird flu currently consists of traditionally developed vaccines from GSK ( NYSE: GSK ), Sanofi ( SNY ) ( OTCPK:SNYNF ) ( GCVRZ ), and CSL ( OTCQX:CSLLY ).

Messenger-RNA-based vaccine makers Moderna ( NASDAQ: MRNA ), Pfizer ( NYSE: PFE ), and CureVac ( NASDAQ: CVAC )/GSK ( GSK ) have opened another front against bird flu. MDHHS recommends seasonal flu vaccines for those working on poultry or dairy farms. While seasonal flu shots can’t prevent bird flu, they can reduce the risk of coinfection with avian and seasonal flu viruses.

CSL Limited ( OTCQX:CSLLY ) ( OTCQX:CMXHF ), GSK ( GSK ),.