The latest developments are highly concerning, as they raise the possibility that the H5N1 virus has evolved the ability to transmit from human-to-human and thus the potential to cause the next pandemic.

A total of 94 healthcare workers were possibly exposed to the state's first human bird flu case, and the nation's first without animal contact.

In what could be the first cases of bird flu spreading between humans in the United States, a group of potential H5N1 infections in Missouri has now grown to eight. However, state health officials are still awaiting antibody tests to confirm whether the H5N1 infection is growing,

As of Monday evening, there is only one confirmed human case of bird flu in Missouri. The single case is one of 15 reported nationwide since 2022. However, the recent Missouri case is unusual... because there is no known animal link to that case.

Health authorities in the US are studying seven people who developed influenza symptoms after being exposed to a Missouri bird flu patient, raising the possibility of the first human-to-human transmission of the infection.