California Child Suspected of H5N1 Bird Flu After Drinking Raw Milk in Marin County

Dec 11, 2024, 03:27 PM

A child in Marin County, California, has been suspected of contracting the highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) virus after consuming raw milk. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has provided a technical update on the genetic sequence of the virus, indicating its close relation to strains found in dairy cattle and poultry across the United States. This incident has sparked concerns about the potential for a new global influenza pandemic, as experts warn that the virus could evolve to become transmissible between humans. Health officials are investigating the link between the child's illness and the raw milk, which was reportedly consumed by around 90,000 people in California without an initial recall.