California health officials have reported a potential case of bird flu in a child from Alameda County, located in the San Francisco Bay Area. The child, who is experiencing mild upper respiratory symptoms, tested positive for the virus despite no known contact with infected animals. This case is currently classified as “possible” pending confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is actively investigating potential exposure to wild birds, as the child had not interacted with any infected poultry or dairy cows. To date, there have been 53 confirmed cases of bird flu in the U.S. this year, primarily linked to direct contact with infected animals.
The child is recovering at home after receiving medical treatment. Importantly, follow-up tests conducted four days after the initial positive result returned negative for bird flu, indicating that the child was not likely infectious to others. Additionally, testing revealed that the child was positive for other common respiratory viruses, which may explain their symptoms.
No person-to-person transmission of the virus has been detected or suspected. All family members of the child have tested negative for bird flu and are being treated for the same respiratory viruses identified in the child. Health officials have reached out to individuals who may have had contact with the child, offering preventive treatment and testing options.
Dr. Tomás Aragón, director of CDPH, reassured the public regarding safety: “It’s natural for people to be concerned. However, based on our data, we don’t believe the child was infectious — and no human-to-human spread of bird flu has been documented in any country for more than 15 years.”
California has reported the highest number of human bird flu cases in the U.S., with 27 confirmed cases so far this year, excluding this latest potential case. In contrast, Washington has reported 11 cases and Colorado 10. Variations in state testing and surveillance practices may account for these discrepancies.
The ongoing outbreak of bird flu has severely impacted poultry since 2022, marking it as one of the worst outbreaks in U.S. history, with over 108 million birds affected through illness or culling. Recently, cases have also been detected in dairy cows across 15 states and even in pigs for the first time last month.
In Canada, health officials reported their first human case of bird flu last week involving a teenager who is currently hospitalized in critical condition but had no known exposure to farm animals.
As investigations continue into this latest case in California, health officials emphasize that while vigilance is necessary, the overall risk to public health remains low.
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