Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Marin County Child Contracts H5N1 Bird Flu from Raw Milk, No Human-to-Human Transmission

Dec 11, 2024, 12:26 PM

Health authorities in Marin County, California, are investigating a case of avian influenza, or bird flu, in a child who may have contracted the virus from consuming raw milk. The milk in question was subject to a recall after being found contaminated with the H5N1 strain of the virus. The child presented symptoms of fever and vomiting after drinking the milk but has since recovered, with no family members falling ill. This incident has raised concerns about the safety of raw milk consumption, especially as the H5N1 virus has been detected in dairy herds across the U.S., with 32 more herds infected, bringing the total to 559 cases in California alone, and 774 herds in 16 states. Experts are monitoring the situation closely due to the potential for the virus to mutate and spread among humans, with fears that it could trigger a new global health crisis. No human-to-human transmission has been reported so far.