California baby constructive for fowl flu; no recognized animal contact: CDC
Well being officers are investigating whether or not a baby in Northern California reportedly affected by gentle respiratory signs has contracted fowl flu.
The kid lives in Alameda County within the East Bay, the place town of Oakland is positioned, and examined constructive for the virus regardless of not having any recognized contact with a contaminated animal, the California Division of Well being reported Tuesday.
It is thought of a “potential” case till the constructive take a look at is confirmed by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, state officers introduced in a information launch Tuesday.
The kid, who state officers mentioned has been handled, is recovering at house. Though the kid had no recognized contact with an contaminated animal, public well being officers mentioned they’re investigating whether or not they had been uncovered to wild birds.
The constructive take a look at confirmed “a low-level detection of the virus,” which means the kid was unlikely infectious to others, state officers reported. Repeat fowl flu testing on the kid 4 days later was damaging, officers wrote, and further testing confirmed the kid was additionally constructive for respiratory viruses that could possibly be the reason for their chilly and flu signs.
California officers mentioned they may ship specimens to the CDC for confirmatory testing.
The nationwide public well being company is conscious of the presumptive constructive case of H5 avian influenza in a baby, a CDC spokesperson USA TODAY Wednesday, is “awaiting the specimen to check at its lab for affirmation” and can present additional updates as quickly as potential.
Though human infections in the USA have been uncommon, in response to the CDC, fowl flu has contaminated 53 folks since April.
If confirmed by the CDC, it may mark the primary H5 case in a baby in the USA.
The chance to the general public stays low, the CDC has mentioned.
Is uncooked milk secure?The USDA is testing uncooked milk for the avian flu.
What’s fowl flu?
Chook flu is a illness attributable to a household of flu viruses primarily transmitted amongst birds.
Avian influenza viruses, in response to the CDC and USDA, are labeled into two teams: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) (usually seen in wild birds) and HPAI, discovered principally in home poultry. Based on the CDC, LPAI viruses trigger gentle or no illness, and HPAI trigger extreme illness and excessive mortality charges in contaminated birds.
Chook flu value the federal government at the very least $660 million by Feb. 2023, the Related Press reported on the time, and has raised the worth of eggs and poultry. Tens of hundreds of thousands of birds have been slaughtered to restrict the unfold of the virus.
What are signs of fowl flu?
Signs of fowl flu embody, in response to the CDC:
- eye redness (conjunctivitis)
- gentle flu-like higher respiratory signs
- pneumonia requiring hospitalization
- fever (temperature of 100 levels Fahrenheit or better) or feeling signs of a fever
- cough
- sore throat
- runny or stuff nostril
- muscle or physique aches
- complications
- fatigue
- shortness of breath or problem respiratory
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Attain her at nalund@usatoday.com and observe her on X @nataliealund.
