CDC Confirms Third Human Case of Bird Flu in California

CDC has confirmed a third human case of H5 bird flu in California as of October 9.

All three California cases have “occurred in dairy workers from three different affected farms with no known contact with each other, suggesting animal-to-human spread. Also consistent with the two previous California cases, the person experienced mild symptoms, including eye redness or discharge (conjunctivitis). None of the three cases has been hospitalized. The identification of H5 in people with exposure to infected animals is not unexpected and does not change CDC's risk assessment for the general public, which continues to be low.”

The first two cases in California were confirmed to be a B3.13 genotype virus, which is consistent with the viruses detected in dairy cattle. There were “no genetic changes observed that are known to be associated with an increased ability to infect or spread between people or known to reduce susceptibility to antiviral medications.”

HPN previously covered the first two California cases.