niman Posted December 11 Report Posted December 11 (edited) In November, Marin County Public Health (MCPH) was notified of a suspected case of bird flu. The child presented to a local emergency department with fever and vomiting after drinking raw milk. The child tested positive for Influenza A. MCPH is working with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on additional testing to confirm if this infection was bird flu or seasonal flu. The child has recovered and no other family members became sick, indicating no person-to-person transmission. https://www.marinhhs.org/h5n1-bird-flu Edited December 12 by niman
niman Posted December 11 Author Report Posted December 11 Marin County Public Health is closely monitoring a multi-state outbreak of H5N1 bird flu in dairy cows with transmission to humans primarily in dairy and poultry workers. H5N1 bird flu was first detected among cows in California in August 2024. H5N1 bird flu was first detected among humans in California in October 2024. H5N1 has been detected in both wild birds and poultry in Marin County. H5N1 has also been detected in wastewater. H5N1 has not been detected among livestock or farm workers in Marin. In November, Marin County Public Health (MCPH) was notified of a suspected case of bird flu. The child presented to a local emergency department with fever and vomiting after drinking raw milk. The child tested positive for Influenza A. MCPH is working with California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) on additional testing to confirm if this infection was bird flu or seasonal flu. The child has recovered and no other family members became sick, indicating no person-to-person transmission. People rarely get bird flu, but those who interact with infected dairy cows, poultry, or wildlife have a greater risk of infection. The current risk to the public remains low. Health Care Providers: On December 6th, CDPH released an alert(link is external) advising healthcare providers to consider avian flu in symptomatic persons who consumed raw milk products. Contact Marin County Public Health to coordinate testing for suspected avian influenza A (H5N1) in persons with signs and symptoms consistent with acute respiratory tract or gastrointestinal infection and/or conjunctivitis with history of consuming raw milk in the past 10 days. During business hours, call 415-473-4163 to coordinate testing. Dairies & Cattle Farms: Call 1-866-922-2473 to report an unusual number of sick livestock or if you suspect Bird Flu in your livestock. For more information, visit: CDC News Release 11.22.2024(link is external) CDFA - AHFSS - AHB - H5N1 Bird Flu Virus in Livestock(link is external) CDPH Current Bird Flu Situation(link is external) CDC’s H5N1 Bird Flu: Current Situation Summary (link is external) Last reviewed and updated: December 10, 2024 What is H5N1 Bird Flu? H5N1 bird flu is a specific strain or type of influenza virus. H5N1 bird flu is also called highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). H5N1 bird flu can infect wild birds, poultry, and mammals such as cows. Human infections with H5N1 bird flu are rare, but spread of the virus may lead to changes that make it more likely to infect humans. Public Health Recommendations CDC has indicated that the current risk to the general public from H5N1 bird flu is low. People should: Wash your hands regularly, especially before eating and after interacting with animals. Avoid unprotected exposures to sick or dead animals including wild birds, poultry, and other domesticated birds. Handling sick or dead animals safely requires personal protective equipment and training. Do not drink or eat unpasteurized (raw) milk or raw cheese. Raw milk and cheese have not gone through a process called pasteurization that kills disease-causing germs. The milk of cows infected with H5N1 carries live virus. For more information about how raw milk can make you sick, visit the CDC’s Raw Milk web page(link is external). Recommendations for Agricultural Workers People who have job-related or recreational exposure to infected animals, including wild birds, poultry, and dairy cows, are at greater risk of being exposed to H5N1 bird flu. People at higher risk should: Follow all CDC recommendations(link is external) for worker protection to reduce the risk of infection Call your health care provider if you feel sick. Symptoms of H5N1 bird flu can include red or watery eyes, cough, sore throat, and fever. The California Department of Public Health has also created an educational flyer for agricultural workers about H5N1 bird flu. Please access the PDF here: English(link is external) / Spanish(link is external) Additional Resources Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Fact Sheet(link is external) (California Department of Food and Agriculture) Avian Influenzas Updates(link is external) (California Department of Food and Agriculture) Poultry Products Transportation(link is external) (California Department of Food and Agriculture) Updates on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)(link is external) (Food and Drug Administration)
niman Posted December 12 Author Report Posted December 12 California investigating possible case of bird flu in child who drank raw milk By Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN 2 minute read Published 9:39 AM EST, Wed December 11, 2024 Video Ad Feedback Government to test milk for bird flu 03:57 - Source: CNN CNN — California health officials are investigating a possible case of bird flu in a child who became ill after drinking raw milk, Marin County Public Health said on Tuesday. The child went to a local emergency department in November with fever and vomiting after drinking raw milk and tested positive for influenza A, the county said. More testing is underway to determine whether the child had H5N1 bird flu. The child recovered and no family members became ill. Related articleUS government to begin expanded testing of milk supply to better track the spread of bird flu California health officials have been warning about the risks of raw milk and other raw dairy products since the virus was identified in products last month. While pasteurized milk goes through a heating process that kills harmful pathogens, raw milk is not pasteurized and can carry listeria, campylobacter, salmonella, E. coli and bird flu virus. Distribution from Fresno-based Raw Farm was halted in November after bird flu was identified in milk products from store shelves, dairy storage and bottling sites. Raw Farm has said it has paused production while its herd is under quarantine. Bird flu has continued to spread in wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle around the United States since spring. There’s no evidence of person-to-person spread but scientists worry the virus can mutate to spread more easily among people. The US Department of Agriculture announced last week a plan to expand testing of milk bound for pasteurization in order to better track the spread of bird flu. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Friday from the CNN Health team. Fifty-eight bird flu cases have been confirmed in humans in the United States so far this year, including 32 in California. Most are linked to farm workers who have been in contact with sick animals. California also reported last month the first US case identified in a child; the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that the virus from that case resembled those previously detected in humans, cattle and poultry in California but it’s not clear how the child was exposed. In an alert to health-care providers last week, the California Department of Health said doctors should consider bird flu in people with acute respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis who’ve had recent exposure to animals with bird flu or who have recently consumed raw dairy products. Bird flu symptoms in humans include typical flu-like symptoms such as eye redness, sore throat, runny nose, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, fatigue, trouble swallowing or fever. https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/11/health/california-bird-flu-child-raw-milk-marin/index.html
Video Ad Feedback Government to test milk for bird flu 03:57 - Source: CNN CNN — California health officials are investigating a possible case of bird flu in a child who became ill after drinking raw milk, Marin County Public Health said on Tuesday. The child went to a local emergency department in November with fever and vomiting after drinking raw milk and tested positive for influenza A, the county said. More testing is underway to determine whether the child had H5N1 bird flu. The child recovered and no family members became ill. Related articleUS government to begin expanded testing of milk supply to better track the spread of bird flu California health officials have been warning about the risks of raw milk and other raw dairy products since the virus was identified in products last month. While pasteurized milk goes through a heating process that kills harmful pathogens, raw milk is not pasteurized and can carry listeria, campylobacter, salmonella, E. coli and bird flu virus. Distribution from Fresno-based Raw Farm was halted in November after bird flu was identified in milk products from store shelves, dairy storage and bottling sites. Raw Farm has said it has paused production while its herd is under quarantine. Bird flu has continued to spread in wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle around the United States since spring. There’s no evidence of person-to-person spread but scientists worry the virus can mutate to spread more easily among people. The US Department of Agriculture announced last week a plan to expand testing of milk bound for pasteurization in order to better track the spread of bird flu. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Friday from the CNN Health team. Fifty-eight bird flu cases have been confirmed in humans in the United States so far this year, including 32 in California. Most are linked to farm workers who have been in contact with sick animals. California also reported last month the first US case identified in a child; the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday that the virus from that case resembled those previously detected in humans, cattle and poultry in California but it’s not clear how the child was exposed. In an alert to health-care providers last week, the California Department of Health said doctors should consider bird flu in people with acute respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis who’ve had recent exposure to animals with bird flu or who have recently consumed raw dairy products. Bird flu symptoms in humans include typical flu-like symptoms such as eye redness, sore throat, runny nose, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, body aches, fatigue, trouble swallowing or fever. https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/11/health/california-bird-flu-child-raw-milk-marin/index.html
niman Posted December 12 Author Report Posted December 12 Susanne Rust @susrust 1) Story update coming// Here's why Marin Co and CDPH called the case of the Marin Co child a "presumptive" #H5N1 : Child is a toddler. Child was visiting Marin Co. -- not a resident. Child brought to ER by mom. The child had a "high" fever and had been vomiting for 3 days 12:39 PM · Dec 11, 2024 · 13.8K Views
niman Posted December 12 Author Report Posted December 12 Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 2) This is all according to Lisa Santora, Marin Co public health officer. Nasopharyngeal swab was negative for Influenza A. Santora said that it has not been uncommon for #H5N1 positive dairy workers to have negative nasopharyngeal tests. 1 10 78 1.5K Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 3) B/c of "large" raw milk consumption by child, co health officials tested orally a day later. That was positive for Influenza A. No circulating human flu in child's home community or Marin Co area where family was visiting. No one else in family tested positive for Influenza A. 1 14 87 2.7K Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 4) No one else was symptomatic. Only the child had consumed the milk. Child's mom bought cream top milk, thinking it was organic (kind she usually buys) -- maybe hadn't realized it was raw. It was a Raw Farm product. 2 13 84 1.5K Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 5) All of these elements: Severe illness, negative naso, positive oral, no flu circulating in location or family, consumption of bird flu recall milk led health officials to call it a "presumptive" case. 1 12 89 4.8K Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 6) CDC is now testing sample. A lab at Quest did not find H5, but had too little virus to make a determination. County, state and federal officials still investigating. 4 12 92 1.6K
Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 2) This is all according to Lisa Santora, Marin Co public health officer. Nasopharyngeal swab was negative for Influenza A. Santora said that it has not been uncommon for #H5N1 positive dairy workers to have negative nasopharyngeal tests. 1 10 78 1.5K
Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 3) B/c of "large" raw milk consumption by child, co health officials tested orally a day later. That was positive for Influenza A. No circulating human flu in child's home community or Marin Co area where family was visiting. No one else in family tested positive for Influenza A. 1 14 87 2.7K
Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 4) No one else was symptomatic. Only the child had consumed the milk. Child's mom bought cream top milk, thinking it was organic (kind she usually buys) -- maybe hadn't realized it was raw. It was a Raw Farm product. 2 13 84 1.5K
Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 5) All of these elements: Severe illness, negative naso, positive oral, no flu circulating in location or family, consumption of bird flu recall milk led health officials to call it a "presumptive" case. 1 12 89 4.8K
Susanne Rust @susrust · 17h 6) CDC is now testing sample. A lab at Quest did not find H5, but had too little virus to make a determination. County, state and federal officials still investigating. 4 12 92 1.6K
niman Posted December 12 Author Report Posted December 12 By Helen Branswell Dec. 11, 2024 Senior Writer, Infectious Diseases An initial test, using a swab swirled around the child’s nostrils, was negative for influenza. But because of the known exposure to raw milk, a second flu test was conducted the next day, where the child’s mouth and throat were swabbed. That test came back positive for flu A, a category of flu viruses that includes the seasonal flu viruses H1N1 and H3N2, but also H5N1 bird flu. But there was little virus in the swab and when the local and state public health laboratories tried to confirm the diagnosis and subtype the virus — that is, to determine which flu A virus was present — they could not do so. “So we only have a positive flu A test, and a symptomatic child,” Santora said. https://www.statnews.com/2024/12/11/california-bird-flu-child-case-details/
niman Posted December 12 Author Report Posted December 12 California child ‘may have caught H5N1 from raw milk’ If H5N1 is confirmed, it will mark the first time a person would be known to have contracted the virus directly from drinking raw milk Raw milk sales have grown by 20 per cent over the last year despite H5N1 spreading amongst US dairy cattle Credit: Lisa Baertlein/REUTERS A child who is believed to be infected with H5N1 may have caught the virus from drinking raw milk, health officials said on Tuesday. The child from Marion County, California, began vomiting and developed a high temperature after drinking a glass of unpasteurised milk, local health officer Dr Lisa Santora told reporters. After being taken to A&E, the child tested positive for influenza. Though the exact strain is yet to be determined, officials suspect it is H5N1 – the bird flu that has infected almost one thousand herds of dairy cattle in the US this year, the bulk of which are in California. Other household members who drank the same milk didn’t develop symptoms, but had consumed the milk in much smaller quantities by adding it to their coffees, Dr Santora said. Almost one thousand dairy herds have been infected with H5N1 this year Credit: Natalie Behring/Getty Images North America If H5N1 is confirmed, it will be the first time a person has contracted the virus directly from drinking raw milk. Most of the 60-odd cases detected in the US this year have been from direct contact with sick cattle or poultry. However, in May, 24 farm cats contracted the virus from drinking raw milk from infected cattle. Half of the cats died, and all had severe symptoms including “stiff body movement, ataxia, blindness, circling, and copious oculonasal discharge,” the US Centres for Disease Control said. The news comes after traces of live H5N1 virus were detected in batches of unpasteurised milk sold at retail stores across California last week. The milk was produced by Fresno-based brand Raw Farm, the largest producer of raw milk in the state. While pasteurised milk undergoes a rigorous heating process that kills bacteria and viruses such as H5N1, the raw variety can lead to a number of serious health risks, including infections like salmonella, E. coli, brucella, campylobacter and listeria. For this reason, US health agencies have long since warned of the dangers of consuming raw milk. But several public figures – including incoming US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr and celebrity Gwenthyn Paltrow – continue to promote its consumption. Raw milk sales have grown by 20 per cent over the last year despite the risk of H5N1 growing over the same period. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/bird-flu-milk-h5n1-california-raw-unpasteurised-cattle/
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