First Cases of Bird Flu in Humans Reported in Arizona

Two cases of human avian flu have been confirmed in Arizona, the first the state has seen. CIDRAP has the news.

Both patients were “exposed to infected poultry at a commercial farm in Pinal County.” If confirmed by the CDC, “the cases would push the national total to 60 and the number of state reporting human cases to eight.” Both patients had “mild symptoms, received treatment, and have recovered.” Two avian flu outbreaks have recently been reported in Arizona in a layer farm and a backyard flock.

Another potential avian flu case involving a child is also being investigated in Marin County, California. The case has not been confirmed yet, but health officials are working alongside the California Department of Public Health and CDC to confirm the findings and “determine how the child may have been exposed.” This case would be “California’s second unexplained avian flu infection in a child.”