One state leads country in human bird flu with nearly 40 confirmed cases

A recent report from the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) revealed that a child in California is suspected to have contracted the H5N1 bird flu virus. This news comes amidst a surge of bird flu cases in the state, with a total of 36 confirmed human cases reported by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) as of December 23rd. This represents more than half of the human cases in the country.

The child, who resides in San Francisco, exhibited symptoms of fever and conjunctivitis (pink eye) as a result of the infection. Fortunately, the patient was not hospitalized and has since fully recovered, according to the SFDPH.

The child tested positive for bird flu at the SFDPH Public Health Laboratory, with additional tests pending confirmation from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The source of the infection remains unknown, prompting an ongoing investigation by health officials.

Dr. Grant Colfax, director of health at SFDPH, reassured the public that the risk of transmission is low, stating, “There is no current evidence that the virus can be transmitted between people.” He urged residents to avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds, particularly wild birds and poultry, as well as unpasteurized dairy products.

In light of the escalating risk associated with the outbreak, Samuel Scarpino, director of AI and life sciences at Northeastern University, emphasized the need for decisive action to protect individuals in contact with infected livestock. He also stressed the importance of raising awareness about the risks posed by wild birds and infected backyard flocks.

Experts have warned about the potential for mutations in the virus that could enable human-to-human transmission. Dr. Jacob Glanville, CEO of Centivax, highlighted the presence of mutations that enhance human-to-human transmission in severely ill patients.

As of January 10th, reports from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) indicate a total of 707 infected cattle in California, with 84 dairy farms affected in the past 30 days alone. This underscores the importance of vigilance and preparation in the event of additional mutations that could lead to a human-transmissible pandemic strain.

For more health-related articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. Stay informed and stay safe.