A child in San Francisco has tested presumptively positive for H5N1 bird flu, according to public health officials. The child showed symptoms such as fever and conjunctivitis but has since recovered.
Dr. Grant Colfax, director of health, said the risk to the general public is low and there’s no evidence the virus can be transmitted between people.
In California, 37 human cases of bird flu were reported as of December 23, with all but one case linked to cattle exposure. The state had declared a state of emergency in response to outbreaks on dairy farms.
Initially, the child tested positive for COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses before receiving a bird flu diagnosis. Symptoms of bird flu include eye redness, coughing, fatigue, fever, and headaches.
An investigation into how the child contracted the virus is ongoing. Health officials have warned residents to avoid contact with sick or dead birds and unpasteurized dairy products.
Source: https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/01/10/officials-san-francisco-child-presumptively-tests-positive-for-bird-flu