United States: A virus known as bird flu or avian influenza – H5N1 has infected an adult in the US in Los Angeles County in California after they had been involved with livestock products.
More about the news
LA County’s Department of Health explained that the person affected by H5N1 had mild symptoms, was administered antiviral drugs, and put in quarantine for a while.
Health officials have said that threat for the population of county by H5 bird flu is low and they had said that This is the first report of the human infection with H5 bird flu in the county but they said there is no evidence that the H5 bird flu can spread from human to human as indicated by this report.
Nevertheless, close contacts, together with other workers at the worksite, are screened for symptoms and have been provided with testing, antiviral prophylaxis, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
The case is still under investigation in cooperation between the county public health department, the California Department of Public Health, and the CDC.
What more are the experts stating?
According to LA County health officer Muntu Davis, “People rarely get bird flu, but those who interact with infected livestock or wildlife have a greater risk of infection. This case reminds us to take basic precautions to prevent being exposed.”
“People should avoid unprotected contact with sick or dead animals including cows, poultry, and wild birds; avoid consuming raw or undercooked animal products, such as raw milk; and protect pets and backyard poultry from exposure to wild animals,” Davis stated, as Fox News reported.
Davis has also invited the public to get the seasonal flu vaccine, which he said reduces the risk of developing a severe seasonal flu illness and also decreases their chances of getting both the bird flu and seasonal flu at the same time in case they are infected with the virus.
Signs of bird flu
Signs of bird flu in humans are sore throat, redness or discharge in the eyes, fever, cough or shortness of breath, muscle aches, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The case came just after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a state of emergency because of the bird flu.
Newsom declared an emergency after the virus affected the dairy cows on farms based in the southern part of the state.
Bird flu, which made its first appearance in Texas and Kansas in March, has been identified in cattle in 16 states in the US, according to the CDC.