Health officials in California have identified a potential case of bird flu in a child from the San Francisco Bay Area. The child, from Alameda County, is currently recovering at home after experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms. Although there is no known contact with an infected animal, public health experts are investigating a possible exposure to wild birds.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) reported that the child tested positive for the virus, but at a low level that indicates they are unlikely to be infectious to others. Subsequent testing revealed that the child also tested positive for respiratory viruses that could explain their symptoms.
While the case is considered “possible,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still need to confirm the diagnosis. Health officials have reassured the public that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission of bird flu in this case.
As a precaution, the CDPH is notifying individuals who may have come into contact with the child and offering preventive treatment and testing. The child attended daycare with mild symptoms before testing positive, prompting health officials to investigate potential exposure among daycare workers and families.
Dr. Tomás Aragón, CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer, emphasized that there is no cause for alarm. He stated, “We don’t think the child was infectious, and no human-to-human spread of bird flu has been documented in any country for more than 15 years.”
Symptoms of bird flu in humans can vary and may include respiratory issues, gastrointestinal problems, muscle aches, and fever. The recent case is part of a larger outbreak affecting poultry and dairy farms in the United States.
Since early October, California has reported 27 confirmed human cases of bird flu, all linked to contact with infected dairy cows. These cases have been mild, primarily causing eye infections, with no hospitalizations reported.
While rare, bird flu can infect humans, but it has not previously spread between people in the United States. Health officials are closely monitoring the virus for any changes that could increase its transmissibility among humans.
The current bird flu outbreak, which began in 2022, has impacted over 108 million birds and has been detected in dairy cattle across multiple states. Additionally, a case of an infected pig was reported for the first time last month.
Please rewrite this sentence.
Source link
