Health officials have confirmed the first reported case of bird flu in a U.S. minor in California. The child, who resides in Alameda County and attends day care in Oakland, exhibited mild symptoms and is currently recovering after receiving antiviral medication, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This case brings the total number of reported bird flu cases in the U.S. this year to 55, with 29 cases in California alone. Most of the cases involved farmworkers who tested positive for the virus with mild symptoms.
One exception was an adult in Missouri who had no known contact with infected animals, raising questions about how the individual contracted the virus. Health officials have stated that there is no evidence of human-to-human transmission in this case.
Across the border in Canada, a British Columbia teen was recently hospitalized with bird flu, highlighting the widespread nature of the H5N1 virus among wild birds, poultry, and other animals in North America.
In the U.S., the virus has been particularly prevalent in dairy cattle, with California experiencing a significant outbreak. Since August, 402 infected herds have been detected in the state, comprising 65% of the 616 confirmed cases across 15 states.
Authorities are currently investigating the source of the child's infection, with a potential link to exposure to wild birds being considered. While some household members of the child reported similar symptoms, their tests for bird flu came back negative. It was noted that both the child and household members tested positive for other common respiratory viruses.
As of now, there is no evidence to suggest that the bird flu has spread from the child to other individuals. Health officials continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent further transmission of the virus.
