The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has started recommending Iowa physicians consider screening for avian influenza when treating patients. Clinicians are advised to consider avian influenza A(H5N1) in patients presenting with influenza-like symptoms or conjunctivitis, especially if they report recent contact with sick or dying birds, dairy cattle, or animal facilities linked to the virus. Patients suspected of having avian influenza should be isolated in an airborne infection isolation room or a private room, with healthcare workers adhering to infection prevention protocols. Iowa HHS also recommends incorporating risk factor screening into electronic health records during check-ins, such as whether the patient had recent exposure to sick poultry or waterfowl, unpasteurized dairy products, or live bird events. Iowa’s first human bird flu case was identified in December in northwest Iowa. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have only been 67 confirmed cases to date nationwide.
