Health | Fourth human case of avian influenza reported by California health officials

The California Department of Public Health reported the fourth case of an individual within the state infected with bird flu on Thursday afternoon.

The infected person was from the Central Valley and had contact with infected dairy cows. All 4 people had contact with infected animals on 4 different farms. Authorities concluded that there was no known connection between any of the confirmed cases, suggesting the disease spread directly from animals to humans.

State health officials were also notified of two additional possible human cases of avian influenza within the Central Valley, samples were collected and sent to the CDC for confirmation.

Those infected showed mild symptoms, including eye redness or discharge, and none were hospitalized. The risk of avian flu infection to most of the people is low, however the state health department expects more avian flu cases amongst individuals who interact with infected dairy cows.

Bird flu, also often known as bird flu, is a viral infection that the majority commonly affects birds. it could impact wildlife and reduce food supplies. People will be infected, but person-to-person transmission of the virus is rare. The H5N1 virus is essentially the most common pathogen causing bird flu in humans. According to the Cleveland ClinicThe death rate from bird flu in humans is over 50%.

Some individuals with bird flu may experience only mild symptoms or no symptoms in any respect, but many turn into seriously in poor health. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, cough, muscle aches, sore throat, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, stuffy or runny nose, and shortness of breath.

On Thursday, the California Department of Food and Agriculture announced that 99 dairy herds in Central California were infected with bird flu. State health officials beneficial personal protective equipment for those working with animals or materials that could be infected with the bird flu virus, equivalent to face shields or goggles to guard eyes, N95 masks and gloves.

According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, this current nationwide outbreak of bird flu in poultry began in 2022. It was first identified in dairy cows in March.

Federal scientists took samples from the primary two people within the Central Valley infected with bird flu to seek out out whether the virus mutates in ways in which make it more more likely to infect other people, turn into proof against antiviral drugs or cause serious illness. The tests would also show whether the employees were infected from cattle they worked with or elsewhere, and the way the disease spread from state to state. The results of this test are still pending.

Originally published:

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