CDC recommends flu surveillance operations remain elevated for potential human H5N1 bird flu cases

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention May 21 announced recommendations that flu surveillance systems continue operating at enhanced levels during the summer and to increase submissions of positive flu samples to public health laboratories for subtyping, in case human-to-human spread of H5N1 bird flu is detected. The CDC met with state and territorial public health officials last month for preparedness planning following one positive human case when an individual was exposed to infected dairy cattle in Texas. The agency has also been frequently updating its website with resources regarding H5N1 bird flu.