Marin County California Investigating Unknown Origin of Possible H5N1 In Child

[niman]

Last week MCPH began investigating a possible bird flu case in a child and is working with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to determine how the child may have been exposed. 

https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/public-health-status-update-12062024

[niman]

“It’s deeply concerning that another child may have H5N1. We need to know much more about this case, including some hypotheses for how she or he may have contracted the virus,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University in Providence, R.I. “Given the proximity of this case to the last case of H5N1 diagnosed in a child without known exposure to animals, it may be prudent to conduct a broader investigation, including a serologic study, to see if there is evidence of other infections in the area.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-07/possible-h5n1-case-in-marin-co-child-source-of-infection-unknown

[niman]

Mark McAfee, the owner of the infected raw milk farm — Raw Farm LLC — told The Times last week that he believed the milk had gone out to 90,000 customers.

Asked how he determined that number, he said, “Our consumers buy every week.... it’s very reliable. We have 500 stores and based on dollar volume per checkout, it’s our best guess.”

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-12-07/possible-h5n1-case-in-marin-co-child-source-of-infection-unknown

[niman]

Health officials said that a possible case of bird flu was detected in a child in Marin County.

The County's public health officer, Dr. Lisa Santora, informed that the child had tested positive for influenza type A at a hospital."Additional local and state testing was unable to confirm if a seasonal flu or avian flu subtypes," Santora added.

The officials have submitted the blood sample of the patient to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. They expect to receive the results by the end of the week.

If confirmed, this would mark the second bird flu case in a child in the U.S.

Edited Monday at 08:27 PM by niman

[niman]

Marin County Officials Investigate Potential Bird Flu Case In Child

 

By RTTNews Staff Writer   ✉   | Published: 12/9/2024 2:58 PM ET   | 

Health officials said that a possible case of bird flu was detected in a child in Marin County.

The County's public health officer, Dr. Lisa Santora, informed that the child had tested positive for influenza type A at a hospital.

"Additional local and state testing was unable to confirm if a seasonal flu or avian flu subtypes," Santora added.

The officials have submitted the blood sample of the patient to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. They expect to receive the results by the end of the week.

If confirmed, this would mark the second bird flu case in a child in the U.S.

 

"It's deeply concerning that another child may have H5N1. We need to know much more about this case, including some hypotheses for how she or he may have contracted the virus," Jennifer Nuzzo, director of the Pandemic Center at Brown University in Providence, said to AOL.

 

"Given the proximity of this case to the last case of H5N1 diagnosed in a child without known exposure to animals, it may be prudent to conduct a broader investigation, including a serologic study, to see if there is evidence of other infections in the area."

The first case in a child was identified in Alameda County in November.

"Consistent with previously identified human cases in the United States, the child reportedly experienced mild symptoms and received flu antivirals," the CDC said.

"There were low levels of viral material detected in the initial specimen collected, and follow-up testing of the child several days later was negative for H5 bird flu but was positive for other common respiratory viruses."

The health agency has urged public to distance themselves from infected animals and birds.

For comments and feedback contact: [email protected]

https://www.rttnews.com/3496005/marin-county-officials-investigate-potential-bird-flu-case-in-child.aspx

Edited Monday at 08:32 PM by niman

[niman]

A child who visited Marin County during Thanksgiving week is being tested for a possible infection of H5N1, the bird flu.

Marin’s public health officer, Dr. Lisa Santora, said the child tested positive for influenza type A at a hospital. The type A category includes bird flu. The child had been visiting from out of state for the holiday.

“Additional local and state testing was unable to confirm if a seasonal flu or avian flu subtypes,” Santora said.

The staff submitted a specimen from the patient to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. The county expects to receive the test results by the end of the week, Santora said Monday.

RELATED: Maverick operator of California raw milk dairy could have role in Trump’s FDA

H5N1, which typically infects poultry flocks and wild birds, has been transmitted to at least 58 people in the United States this year, according to the CDC. Thirty-two cases have been reported in California.

A human case of H5N1 was reported in Alameda County last month. Authorities do not know the patient’s source of exposure, the Marin County public health staff reported.

Symptoms of the virus in human cases include eye redness, mild flu-like symptoms, fever, pneumonia, fatigue and breathing difficulties, the CDC says.

Marin County’s public health staff reported that H5N1 has been detected in wild birds, poultry and wastewater in Marin. Last month, the staff started investigating “presumptive” positive test results at a poultry farm.

H5N1 outbreaks prompted the euthanization of 1.2 million birds by commercial producers in Sonoma County last year, officials said

Santora said H5N1 passed from birds to cattle this year.

“We’re not seeing the same level of severity in cows themselves,” she said.

Cows can be quarantined and returned to milk production after their infectious period ends, she said.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/12/09/marin-officials-report-possible-bird-flu-case-in-child/