Marin County Child Contracts Avian Flu from Raw Milk Amid Bird Flu Outbreaks in California

Dec 11, 2024, 01:39 PM

Health officials in Marin County, California, are investigating a case of avian influenza in a child, suspected to be linked to the consumption of raw milk. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed 32 additional H5N1 bird flu infected dairy herds in California, bringing the state's total to 559 and the national total to 774 herds across 16 states. Meanwhile, the Philippines has reported its first-ever case of the H5N2 subtype of bird flu, which is transmissible to humans. Experts are raising concerns over the potential for bird flu to mutate into a new pandemic threat, with fears centered around the spread among animals and humans. In response to these outbreaks, officials are ramping up testing of raw milk products to ensure safety. Approximately 90,000 people in California reportedly drank the raw milk linked to the case.