CDC Urges Faster Testing for Bird Flu Amid Growing Outbreak [Video]

Key Takeaways

U.S. health officials are calling for faster bird flu testing for hospitalized flu patientsEarly testing helps prevent disease spread and speeds up treatmentMost bird flu cases have been linked to animal exposure

FRIDAY, Jan. 17, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging health care workers to accelerate bird flu testing for patients hospitalized with flu symptoms, as the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak continues to grow in the United States and Canada.

The advisory, issued Jan. 16, recommends that health care providers perform a second test for bird flu within 24 hours of hospital admission for any patient suspected of having seasonal or H5N1 avian influenza — otherwise known as bird flu.

It also emphasizes starting antiviral treatment, such as Tamiflu, immediately, without waiting for test results.

Delays in diagnosing bird flu can complicate public health investigations, delay treatment for exposed individuals and affect hospital infection control, according to a report …