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The first human cases of infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus were described in Hong Kong in 1997, when 18 patients became ill (6 of whom died). The viral strain was identified as group A, serotype H5N1. While small, sporadic avian-to-human outbreaks with mortalities as high as two thirds appeared during ensuing years, concern has been highest regarding adaptation of this (and other) HPAI viruses yielding efficient passage among humans and resulting in a pandemic of huge proportions and high lethality. Accordingly, the Agriculture Department has closely monitored HPAI outbreaks among birds in the U.S. as well as suspected infections in persons exposed to poultry and wild seabirds.
From February 7 to September 3, 2022…