The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed three new human cases of H5 bird flu in California. The cases involving dairy workers exposed to infected cows occurred at three farms with no known contact between them, suggesting animal-to-human transmission. Each patient experienced mild symptoms, including eye redness, and none required hospitalization.
This brings the U.S. total to 18 human cases since 2022, with 17 occurring in 2024. CDC maintains that the risk to the general public remains low.
According to Iowa Capital Dispatch, the CDC expects results later this month on how a Missouri resident contracted highly pathogenic avian influenza without contact with infected animals or food. Demetre Daskalakis, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, explained mutations and a small sample size have made it challenging. Despite this, CDC hopes to complete the lab process soon.
On Sept. 16, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) began monitoring muscle samples from culled dairy cows for H5N1 influenza A as part of its national surveillance programs for pathogens and chemical contaminants. As of Oct. 1, FSIS tested 26 muscle samples, and no influenza A has been detected.
