Health officials in Marin County are investigating a possible H5N1 bird flu case in a child.
Officials have been investigating as last week and are working with the California Department of Public Health and the centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine how the child was exposed.
The details was provided in a Friday “health status update” newsletter, and buried at the end of a paragraph about the county and state’s monitoring of the virus, raw milk and a note about a new USDA program designed to test milk nationwide.
If confirmed, this would be the second case of an infected child in California.
“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.”
Last month, state health officials announced a child in Alameda County was positive for the disease. Investigators have not been able to determine the source of exposure. The child suffered from mild respiratory symptoms, and no one else in the child’s family or day care was infected.
If confirmed, this would be the 61st human case of bird flu this year. Two cases were announced in Arizona on Friday — both cases involving dairy workers.
This would also be the third case in the U.S. this year where the source of exposure is unknown. Aside from the case of the child in Alameda County, a person in Missouri was also infected by an unknown source.
Outside the U.S., a teenager in Canada was also infected by the virus — source unknown — and has remained in critical condition for three weeks with severe disease.
Most of the human cases in the United States have involved dairy workers and poultry workers — exposed in places where the virus is known to present.
To date, most cases of H5N1 bird flu in people have been mild, involving conjunctivitis, or pink eye, and mild upper respiratory symptoms.
Investigators will need to evaluate the genetic sequencing of the virus to determine if the virus is of dairy or bird origin.
Wastewater samples collected by WastewaterScan — an infectious disease monitoring network led by researchers at Stanford and Emory universities, with lab testing partner Verily, Alphabet Inc.’s life sciences organization — has shown the virus is widely present in the habitat, including Marin county sites in San Raphael and Novato.
In the last two weeks, state health and agriculture officials suspended and recalled infected raw milk that had made its way to grocery store shelves throughout the state.
However,several mammal species have displayed severe illness and death after consuming raw milk including cats and mice.
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 vrey reliable. We have 500 stores and based on dollar volume per checkout, it’s our best guess.”
how does H5N1 differ from other strains of avian influenza in terms of transmission and severity?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Dr. Emily Carter, Avian Diseases Expert
Time.news Editor: Welcome, Dr. Carter! Thank you for joining us today.We’re hear to discuss the recent investigation by health officials in Marin County regarding a potential H5N1 bird flu case in a child.This news certainly raises some alarms.
Dr. Emily carter: Thank you for having me. Yes, it’s a concerning progress that highlights the ongoing risks associated with avian influenza.
Editor: Could you start by explaining what H5N1 is and why it is particularly worrying when it infects humans?
Dr.Carter: Absolutely. H5N1 is a subtype of the influenza A virus that primarily affects birds, but it can also infect humans in rare cases. Its potential is particularly alarming because it has a high mortality rate among humans—around 50% in confirmed cases. Most human infections have been linked to direct contact with infected birds or contaminated environments.
Editor: Given that a child is involved in this investigation,what might be some of the avenues of exposure that health officials could be looking into?
Dr. Carter: There are several possible routes of exposure. It could range from direct contact with infected birds—such as farm animals or wild birds—to handling feathers or surfaces contaminated with the virus. Additionally, there may be environmental factors like exposure to areas were infected birds congregate.
editor: The report mentions that this would be the second case in California if confirmed. How should the public react to such news? What precautions should they take?
Dr. Carter: The public should remain informed but not panic. It’s essential for people to be aware of bird flu symptoms and understand the importance of avoiding contact with sick or dead birds. Enhancing biosecurity measures around poultry farms and implementing more rigorous monitoring are crucial steps. If anyone has concerns, they should consult local health authorities.
Editor: What kind of investigative measures are the California Department of Public Health and the CDC likely implementing in this situation?
Dr. Carter: They will probably conduct a thorough investigation to trace the child’s exposure, which may involve interviewing the family, looking at local bird populations, and potentially testing birds in the vicinity. They’ll also be analyzing any other cases to ensure there’s no broader transmission.
Editor: Lastly, what can you tell us about advancements in monitoring and prevention efforts surrounding avian influenza?
Dr. Carter: There’s been significant progress in surveillance systems for tracking avian influenza outbreaks, especially in bird populations. for instance, new USDA initiatives are focusing on testing milk nationwide for contamination, which ties into the broader aspect of zoonotic diseases. Vaccination in poultry has also become more prevalent to mitigate risk.
Editor: thank you,Dr. Carter. Your insights are invaluable, especially as we navigate these potential health threats. We appreciate you sharing your expertise with us.
Dr. Carter: Thank you for having me! It’s crucial to stay informed and proactive when it comes to public health matters like these.