Silent carriers of H5N1: New findings on asymptomatic human infections
A recent study in JAMA Network Open identified 18 asymptomatic individuals infected with H5N1, emphasizing the importance of enhanced surveillance to detect silent infections and prevent transmission.
A recent analysis published in JAMA Network Open found that humans can contract highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) and experience no symptoms.
Serologic and/or molecular testing was used to obtain these results. The researchers confirmed 18 asymptomatic H5N1 patients.
Additional key findings:
Two cases were confirmed with molecular and serologic testing.
Of those cases, one patient is believed to have contracted the disease through human contact.
16 cases were confirmed through molecular testing.
Of those cases, 11 were found “through enhanced surveillance of people exposed to poultry infected with H5N1.”
Five were pinpointed “through contact tracing.”
The authors call for enhanced H5N1 surveillance to identify asymptomatic infections. They added, “Whether persons with asymptomatic A(H5N1) virus infections are a transmission risk to their close contacts is an additional critical knowledge gap. This review highlights the need for robust data collection from persons with possible asymptomatic A(H5N1) virus infection to inform future public health responses.”
