Concerns about bird flu — officially known as avian influenza A (H5) — continue to mount, particularly in California. Infectious disease experts voice their concerns and recommend precautions.
Concerns about bird flu — officially known as avian influenza A — continue to mount, particularly in California. As of Oct. 14, the state has had six confirmed and five possible human cases of bird flu, according to the California Department of Public Health . All of the affected individuals reportedly had direct contact with infected cattle at nine dairy farms, the department stated. FIRST CASE OF HUMAN BIRD FLU DIAGNOSED WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO INFECTED ANIMALS, CDC SAYS The U.S.
As of Oct. 15, there were a total of 20 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the U.S., according to the CDC. Colorado and California have had the most cases, with others reported in Michigan, Missouri and Texas, the same source stated. Roughly half of those were linked to exposure to infected cattle and the other half to infected poultry.
Getting the flu vaccine also makes it less likely that someone will end up with a suspected case of avian flu as a result of having the seasonal flu and a history of animal exposure, she added. Vaccines for bird flu are currently in development. 'It is not time to vaccinate more broadly yet, given the small number of cases, absence of proven human-to-human transmission and mostly mild infection,' said Doron. It is important for tests to be commercially available for avian flu, however.
Right now, to test for avian flu, specimens have to go to special public health labs and the results take days to return. We are going to need answers more quickly if we want people to be able to properly isolate and prevent spread.' The CDPH recommends that California residents monitor for bird flu symptoms for 10 days after exposure.
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