A case of bird flu in a California child has sparked renewed attention to the ongoing outbreak of avian influenza among livestock. Health officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the strain detected in the child closely resembles the virus circulating in dairy cows and poultry, as well as strains previously found in infected dairy workers.

Despite these findings, the CDC emphasized that the risk to the general public remains low. The child, who had no known exposure to infected animals, received antiviral treatment and has since recovered.

Investigating the Source of Infection

California health officials are continuing their investigation to determine how the child might have contracted the H5N1 virus. Richard Webby, a virologist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, suggested that animals like cats, dogs, or rodents could potentially play a role in the virus's spread.

While no person-to-person transmission has been detected in the California case, experts remain vigilant. “The longer the virus spreads among humans and animals, the more likely it will mutate and be able to spread easily between humans,” Webby cautioned.

Bird Flu’s Reach Expands

Since the outbreak began in poultry in 2022 and spread to dairy cows in March 2024, avian influenza has infected 742 dairy herds across 16 states. Human cases, primarily among farmworkers, have been confirmed in seven states, with California reporting the highest number at 32 infections.

So far this year, the CDC has confirmed 58 human cases of bird flu in the U.S., nearly all linked to direct exposure to infected poultry or dairy cattle.

The virus has also crossed borders, with Canadian officials reporting the hospitalization of a teenager in British Columbia earlier this month. Like the California child, the teen had no known contact with infected animals. Testing of close contacts revealed no further infections.

Experts Call for Vigilance

While the CDC maintains that the immediate risk to the public remains low, experts like Dr. James Lawler, co-director of the University of Nebraska’s Global Center for Health Security, urge heightened attention and resources to combat the virus.

“We should be very concerned at this point,” Lawler told English Daily. “Nobody should be hitting the panic button yet, but we should really be devoting a lot of resources into figuring out what’s going on.”

The outbreak underscores the urgent need for continued monitoring and research to prevent a potential mutation that could enable easier human transmission.