A child has been infected with H5N1 avian flu in San Francisco, bringing California’s total cases to 38. The case involves a child who contracted the virus after showing symptoms of fever and conjunctivitis. However, the child was not hospitalized and has since recovered.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) confirmed that highly pathogenic avian flu has been detected for the first time in Puerto Rico’s poultry. This outbreak marks the latest in a series of detections across the US mainland and its territories, including Hawaii.
California is now California’s 38th case, with all cases linked to an unknown exposure source. The child was initially tested for COVID-19, RSV, and flu before testing positive for influenza A, which led to further testing revealing H5N1.
APHIS officials have urged Californians to avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds and unpasteurized dairy products to minimize the risk of transmission. However, the public remains at low risk, with no human-to-human transmission reported.
This latest detection brings the US total to 67 cases since January 2024 and California’s total to 38. APHIS has confirmed detections in poultry flocks across six states on the mainland, including Ohio and Oregon.
The agency is working closely with animal health officials in Puerto Rico and other territories to contain the outbreak and provide support as needed.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influenza-bird-flu/san-francisco-reports-h5n1-avian-flu-child