CDC Confirms California's First Human Bird Flu Cases

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Two dairy workers in California have been confirmed as the state's first human cases of bird flu, according to federal and state health officials. The announcement on Thursday followed an investigation into potential human infections linked to H5N1 bird flu.

Both cases were identified in different locations within the Central Valley, and there’s no known connection between the two workers, suggesting they were likely infected directly by dairy cows.

The workers experienced mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis, but did not show any respiratory issues and were not hospitalized.

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California reported outbreaks of H5N1 among dairy herds starting in August. With these latest cases, the U.S. has seen 16 confirmed human cases of the virus this year, including previous cases in Texas, Colorado, and Michigan.

The CDC maintains that the public risk remains "low," although farmworkers are at a higher risk of exposure. Health officials advise them to use personal protective equipment, such as respirators, eye protection, and gloves.

Of the 16 human cases reported, six were associated with infected dairy cows, while nine involved exposure to poultry. However, the origin of one case in Missouri is still under investigation, as health officials explore potential person-to-person transmission after flu-like symptoms appeared in those close to the infected individual.

Tomás Aragón, director of the California Department of Public Health, highlighted the importance of ongoing health checks for those interacting with potentially infected animals. He reiterated that the general public's risk remains low and emphasized the need for preventive measures among those in contact with affected animals.

As of now, 254 herds across 14 states have reported infections, although experts believe this figure may be significantly underestimated due to a lack of widespread testing among farmers.