The state of California has detected a possible bird flu infection in a child in the Bay Area. The state reported that the child has not had contact with farm animals — which is the case for all but a few other confirmed cases in this growing outbreak — leaving unanswered questions regarding sources of exposure. "The child, who has been treated, is recovering at home," the report states.
The bird flu crisis, driven by the H5N1 virus, began several years ago, but ramped up considerably in April when dairy cows started becoming infected. Since then, 53 human cases have been reported across several states. All of these infections occurred in farmworkers who came into contact with infected cows or poultry, except one case in Missouri in which health officials could not track the origins of the infection.
