San Francisco Reports Presumptive H5N1 Bird Flu Case in Child, CDC to Confirm

Jan 10, 2025, 11:59 PM

San Francisco health officials have identified a presumptive case of H5N1 bird flu in a child who resides in the city. The child experienced symptoms of fever and conjunctivitis but did not require hospitalization and has since fully recovered. The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) is investigating the case, with no clear link to exposure to the virus identified yet. The risk to the general public remains low as there is currently no evidence of person-to-person transmission. The SFDPH is urging residents to avoid direct contact with sick or dead birds, especially wild birds and poultry, and to refrain from consuming raw milk or raw milk products due to the ongoing spread of bird flu among U.S. dairy cows. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will perform confirmatory testing on the presumptive case.