As more states report more human cases, the multistate bird flu outbreak is still causing concern throughout the country.
Six confirmed human cases and five potential human cases of bird flu, also known as avian influenza A, have been reported in California, according to the California Department of Public Health ( CDPH). The state had direct contact with calves at nine various dairy farms across the state, according to the CDPH, which is why all human bird virus situations in the state occurred.
The CDPH stated that all of the people who have been affected by the bird virus have had “mild indicators,” including infection and red eyes. Additionally, the organization noted that none of the damaged people have ever been taken into care.
The CDPH believes that there is currently no need for human-to-human transfer of the bird flu. The company said,” Given the amount of contact to infected cattle, data continues to suggest just animal-to-human spread of the virus in California”.
The CDPH added,” Also, based on CDC’s genetic sequencing of three California animal fever cases, there is no evidence to suggest an increased capacity for the disease to harm or spread between people and no known reduced vulnerability to , viral treatments”.
There have been 20 confirmed human cases of bird flu in the United States since April, according to a CDC press release.
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The “higher numbers” of bird flu cases reported in states like California and Colorado are the result of “more aggressive monitoring and case finding efforts in those states,” according to Shira Doron, M. D., chief infection control officer at Boston’s Tufts Medicine Health System, according to Fox News.
Doron claimed on Fox News that” they monitor exposed health care workers” when California discovers sick cows. Doron continued,” The disease will only be detected if looked for because it has been mostly very mild.
Since there is no evidence of the virus spreading from person to person, Doron explained that the bird flu outbreak “does not have the potential to become a human pandemic.” However, Doron said that could change in the future.
Doron told Fox News,” Obviously, scientists and public health officials should be concerned, and should take action to limit the spread of this disease in , farm animals”.
Sam Scarpino, PhD, Northeastern University’s director of AI and life sciences, also told Fox News that he considers the increased number of human bird flu cases to be” concerning”. He remarked that the higher the chance that the wrong variant will manifest itself in a person and cause an epidemic the more spillovers there are.