The first child is reported to have come down with bird flu is from California

Fifty-five adults in. the United States were stricken with human bird flu this year, and now a child has become the latest victim of the avian virus.

California has identified the case in a child with mild respiratory symptoms and who is recovering at home. Human infections with bird flu viruses are rare, and no person-to-person spread has been detected in California or the United States.

California identified the possible bird flu case in a child in Alameda County who was tested for mild upper respiratory symptoms. The child had no known contact with an infected animals, but public health experts are investigating a possible exposure to wild birds. 

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is working with local public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate the cause of the child’s illness. A positive test showed a low-level virus detection, indicating the child was not likely infectious to others. Repeat bird flu testing on the child four days later was negative, and additional testing showed the child was also positive for respiratory viruses that could be the cause of their cold and flu symptoms. 

Test specimens were sent to the CDC for confirmation testing. 

No person-to-person spread of the virus has been detected or is suspected. Due to mild respiratory symptoms, all close family members of the child were tested, and all were negative for bird flu and not suspected of having the virus at all. 

Family members were also confirmed to have the same, more common respiratory viruses as the child. They are also being treated with preventive medication. 

 No indication of larger outbreak yet 
Out of an abundance of caution, other individuals who had contact with the child are being notified and offered preventive treatment and testing. 

Public health officials know that the child attended daycare with mild symptoms before the child’s test was reported as a possible bird flu infection. Local public health officials have contacted potentially exposed caregivers and families to conduct health checks for symptoms and offer connections to preventive treatment and testing if they develop symptoms.  

“It’s natural for people to be concerned, and we want to reinforce for parents, caregivers, and families that based on the information and data we have, we don’t think the child was infectious – and no human-to-human spread of bird flu has been documented in any country for more than 15 years,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón. 

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