California Dairy Workers Infected with Bird Flu
Two dairy workers in California were infected with bird flu, the 15th and 16th human cases detected this year in an ongoing outbreak affecting the nation’s dairy cows, health officials said Thursday.
Ongoing Outbreak in California
The latest cases were found in workers who had contact with infected cattle in California’s Central Valley, where more than 50 herds have been affected since August.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
The workers developed eye redness known as conjunctivitis and had mild symptoms.
No Known Link Between Cases
California health officials said the workers were employed at different farms and there is no known link between the two cases, suggesting that they were infected through animal contact, not by people.
First Cases in California
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday confirmed the positive test results, the first for California.
Risk to the Public Remains Low
CDC officials said new cases of bird flu in people exposed to infected animals is “not unexpected.”
The risk to the public remains low, they added.
Outbreak Across the U.S.
Across the U.S., more than 250 dairy herds have been infected in 14 states since the outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza was confirmed in March.
Previous Cases
Avian influenza has been spreading in wild and domestic birds in the U.S. for several years but recently was found in dairy cows.
Before this year, one case of bird flu was detected in a person, a Colorado poultry worker who fell ill in 2022.
Most Cases in Workers with Animal Contact
Most cases this year have been detected in workers who had contact with cattle or poultry in Colorado, Michigan, and Texas.
A person in Missouri was also infected, but that person had no known contact with animals and the source of that illness has not been determined.
Conclusion
The bird flu outbreak in dairy cows has resulted in 16 human cases, with most cases detected in workers with animal contact. While the risk to the public remains low, it is essential to take precautions to prevent the spread of the virus.
FAQs
Q: How many human cases of bird flu have been detected in the U.S. this year?
A: 16 human cases have been detected in the U.S. this year.
Q: Where have most cases of bird flu been detected in workers?
A: Most cases have been detected in workers with contact with cattle or poultry in Colorado, Michigan, and Texas.
Q: What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?
A: The symptoms of bird flu in humans include eye redness (conjunctivitis) and mild symptoms.
Q: Is the risk to the public high?
A: No, the risk to the public remains low, according to CDC officials.
