2nd Suspected Bird Flu Case Sickens Bay Area Child Who Consumed Raw Milk

SAN RAFAEL, CA — Public health officials are renewing the call for residents to avoid all raw milk products amid the latest suspected bird flu illness detected in a Marin County child.

In a notice shared Tuesday evening, Marin County Public Health said the child recently experienced a fever and vomiting after consuming raw milk. Officials said the young patient has since recovered, and no one else in the family became sick, indicating a lack of person-to-person transmission.

MCPH is investigating the case with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The latest illness comes less than a week after state health officials issued an alert to healthcare providers to test for human avian flu in patients who develop flu-like symptoms after drinking raw milk.

According to state health data, at least 32 bird flu cases have been confirmed in California this year, including the nation's first known child case confirmed last month in Alameda County.

While the CDC says the risk to the public is low, a recent uptick in bird flu has prompted recalls of potentially tainted raw milk produced and sold in California.

"Bird flu infections in humans are uncommon, but there are ongoing outbreaks in dairy cattle and poultry farms in the United States," said Dr. Lisa Santora, Marin County's Public Health Officer. "The risk to the public remains low, as bird flu spread from person to person is rare."

According to Marin health officials, raw milk, which has not been pasteurized, poses a risk for disease and can be particularly hazardous for people with weakened immune systems, pregnant people, children and older adults.

"Human, animal, and environmental health are connected," the MCPH said. "This possible case of bird flu linked to raw milk consumption highlights the importance of understanding how diseases can spread from animals to humans, especially through food."

The county is also asking healthcare providers to consider bird flu and reach out to the MCPH for testing help for any patients experiencing a fever, gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis after consuming raw milk.

>> Learn more about bird flu in California from the state Department of Public Health.