CDC diagnoses Californian child with bird flu
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] confirmed the diagnosis of the H5N1 bird flu in a Californian child on Nov. 22. The adolescent is an Alameda County resident and the first minor in the nation with a reported case of the avian influenza H5 virus infection.
The youth faced mild respiratory symptoms and recovered with the assistance of antiviral medication. During the California Department of Public Health’s [CDPH] investigation, household members also reported having mild symptoms. However, specimens were collected from the household and all test results came back negative for H5 bird flu. Although some family members tested positive for the same respiratory viruses as the child. California health officials are holding an ongoing investigation to determine how the child may have been exposed to the H5N1 influenza. Contact tracing still continues, but as of now, there is no evidence that the virus spread.
This ongoing case was discovered through influenza testing and reported to CDPH through influenza surveillance. It marks the second U.S. case of bird flu identified from national surveillance. CDC continues to monitor data from influenza surveillance systems, including California, where outbreaks of bird flu have been common in the past.
This incident brings the reported number of U.S. bird flu cases in 2024 to 55, including 29 in California alone. The majority of those incidents in California are linked to the exposure to sick cows who carry the virus.
The first appearance of bird flu was detected in U.S. dairy cattle in March 2024. Since then, California has had an enormous outbreak, consisting of 402 infected herds since August. The dairy breakout has also resulted in the death of several cats from drinking raw milk. 15 other states have had cases documented in a total of 214 dairy cow herds. States with confirmed human bird flu cases are Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
CDC officials stated that the general public is not threatened, however those exposed to environments contaminated by infected animals, such as birds and dairy cattle, are at higher risk of infection. The public is urged to avoid exposure to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry and cows, as H5N1 bird flu has been spreading widely among these animals over the last few years.
