California Investigates Suspected Bird Flu Case in Child After Raw Milk Consumption; CDC Tests Negative

Dec 11, 2024, 07:37 PM

Health officials in California are investigating a suspected case of bird flu in a child from Marin County who experienced fever and vomiting after consuming raw milk. The child initially raised concerns about a potential H5N1 infection, prompting a statewide warning to test for bird flu in patients displaying symptoms after drinking raw milk. However, recent CDC tests have indicated that the child does not have bird flu. This incident comes amid rising concerns over the H5N1 virus, which has been linked to a mass death event of wild birds in Louisiana and a significant increase in reported cases among animals in California. The USDA has identified 32 new H5N1 herds in California, bringing the total in the state to approximately 559, with 779 herds reported across 17 states. Experts are raising alarms about the escalating pandemic potential of bird flu, with odds of another pandemic estimated at 10%.