H5 Bird Flu Confirmed In First Human – Los Angeles County

Los Angeles County has confirmed its first human case of H5 bird flu, as reported by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The infected individual, an adult exposed to livestock carrying the H5 bird flu virus at a worksite, is recovering at home after experiencing mild symptoms. The person was treated with antiviral medications and is expected to fully recover.

Despite this isolated case, Public Health officials emphasize that the overall risk to the general public remains low. At this time, there is no evidence to suggest that the virus is spreading from person to person. The department is closely monitoring the contacts of the affected individual, as well as other workers at the site where the exposure occurred. These individuals have been provided with protective equipment, testing, and antiviral prophylaxis as a precaution.

“While human cases of bird flu are rare, those who interact with infected livestock or wildlife are at greater risk of exposure,” said Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County Health Officer. “This case serves as a reminder to take necessary precautions to avoid exposure to infected animals.”

Symptoms of H5 bird flu in humans include eye redness, fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, diarrhea, and vomiting. People in occupations that involve direct contact with animals—such as farm workers, dairy employees, and workers at meat or poultry processing facilities—are considered to be at higher risk for infection.

Public Health is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to investigate the case further and to provide resources to help prevent further spread of the virus.

How to Protect Yourself H5 Bird Flu

The department advises those who work with animals to take additional precautions, including wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves, N-95 masks, and goggles. Regular hand washing, avoiding raw milk, and showering and changing clothes after work are also recommended to reduce exposure.

For the general public, Public Health recommends avoiding unprotected contact with sick or dead animals, particularly birds, and reporting any observed sick or dead birds to local animal control. Residents should also avoid raw dairy products and undercooked meat, which can carry the virus, and protect their pets or poultry from exposure to wild birds.

Additionally, Public Health encourages everyone to get the seasonal flu vaccine, which can reduce the risk of severe illness from seasonal flu and lower the chances of contracting both seasonal and bird flu if exposed.

For more information, residents can visit the Los Angeles County Public Health website or call the Public Health InfoLine at 833-540-0473, available daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health remains dedicated to ensuring the health and safety of its residents and continues to monitor the situation closely.

Information from the CDC: Monitoring H5 Bird Flu in the U.S.

H5 bird flu, caused by the H5N1 virus, continues to spread globally, particularly affecting wild birds and causing outbreaks in poultry and U.S. dairy cows. While human cases remain rare, there have been several reports of infection among workers in U.S. dairy and poultry industries. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring the situation, working with states to track individuals with potential animal exposures.

Current Situation and Risk

• Wild Birds: Widespread detections across the U.S.
• Poultry Flocks: Sporadic outbreaks reported in different states.
• Dairy Cattle: Ongoing multi-state outbreak affecting dairy herds.
• Mammals: Sporadic infections observed.
• Person-to-person spread: No evidence of person-to-person transmission.
• Current public health risk: Low.

Confirmed Human Cases in the U.S. (2024 Outbreak)

As of the latest update (December 23rd, 2024), 65 confirmed human cases of H5 bird flu have been reported in the United States. These cases have been linked primarily to exposures in commercial agriculture, particularly within dairy and poultry farms.

Breakdown of Cases by Exposure Source

Note: One additional case was previously detected in a poultry worker in Colorado in 2022.

Probable Human Cases:

Probable cases are those that test positive for H5 at a public health laboratory but do not meet the criteria for confirmation at the CDC level. These include:

• Washington: 3 cases with commercial poultry exposure
• Arizona: 2 cases with commercial poultry exposure
• California: 1 case with commercial dairy exposure
• Delaware: 1 case with an unknown exposure source

The CDC regularly updates the confirmed and probable case numbers, typically on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Monitoring and Flu Surveillance

The CDC continues to use its flu surveillance systems to track and monitor any unusual activity in the U.S. While no indicators of unusual influenza activity have been reported, the public is encouraged to remain vigilant, especially individuals working with animals that may be at risk for exposure.

For additional information or to report sick or dead birds, the CDC maintains its monitoring and tracking efforts to ensure the health and safety of the public.

Find More Information at the CDC H5 Bird Flu information page
https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/situation-summary/index.html

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