Bird Flu Detected In Bay Area Child

ALAMEDA COUNTY, CA — A child in Alameda County with mild upper respiratory symptoms tested positive for avian flu, the Alameda County Public Health Department announced Tuesday. The child received treatment and is recovering at home, health officials said. Additional testing four days later showed the child tested positive for other respiratory viruses that could be the cause of their symptoms, according to the California Department of Public Health.

"The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is working with local public health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate the cause of the initial positive test in the child," the CDPH said in a statement on Tuesday.

All other members of the household have tested negative for bird flu, despite reporting similar symptoms, and received preventative treatment. Officials said they also reached out to anyone who was in contact with the child to offer testing and preventative treatment.

Health officials are saying that they don't believe the child was infectious.

“While it is reassuring that we have found only one mild bird flu case, we will continue to monitor the situation closely,” Alameda County Health Officer Dr. Nicholas Moss said in a statement. “Fortunately, bird flu remains rare, and most people are unlikely to be exposed unless they work with sick birds or cattle.”

“It’s natural for people to be concerned, and we want to reinforce for parents, caregivers and families that based on the information and data we have, we don't think the child was infectious – and no human-to-human spread of bird flu has been documented in any country for more than 15 years,” California Department of Public Health Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Tomás Aragón said in a statement.

There have been a total of 53 cases reported in the United States in 2024, and 27 in California. The large majority of cases were seen in poultry and dairy workers exposed to sick animals, according to the Alameda County Department of Public Health and the California Department of Public Health. In California, all 27 previous cases are tied to dairy workers and, if confirmed by the CDC, the Alameda County child would be the first non-dairy worker to contract it, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Bird flu in humans remains rare, and no person-to-person spread has been detected in California, according to CDPH. CDPH said it continues to monitor local, state, and federal levels closely, and is recommending protective gear for dairy and poultry workers.

The Alameda County Public Health Department recommends that residents take the following precautions.

How to protect yourself from potentially infected birds

• Infected birds spread the virus through mucus, saliva, and feces.
• Do not handle wild birds that are sick or found dead.
• Keep household pets away from wild birds and their droppings.
• If you keep backyard chickens or other poultry, see the CDC website for information.

If you are exposed to sick/dead birds

• If you were exposed to saliva, mucus, or feces from sick birds or handled any carcasses of dead birds without the use of PPE and have developed illness, seek medical attention right away.
• Tell your healthcare about any exposures to sick/dead birds.
  • Testing is recommended within the first 7 days of illness onset
• Stay home while sick or waiting for test results.
• Treatment is available, but must be started soon after illness onset.
• See additional information from the CDC.

If you find a sick or dead bird

• DO NOT HANDLE SICK OR DEAD WILDLIFE.
• To report an unusual number of sick/dead birds, call the State Bird Hotline: 866-922-BIRD (2473).
• If a dead bird is found, contact Alameda County Vector Control at 510-567-6800.
• The City of Berkeley has its own Vector Control services: 510-981-5310.
• For orphaned or injured live wild birds, contact your local wildlife rehabilitation center for advice. Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital in Walnut Creek may be reached at 925-659-8156.
• For stray or feral domestic or semi-domestic birds, such as chickens or racing pigeons, contact your local animal control or animal services for assistance.

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