U.S. reports first human bird flu death. What does it mean for California, which has highest number of cases?

California has reported 37 cases of human infection from avian influenza, about 56% of the country’s total. And on Monday, the Louisiana Department of Health reported that nation’s first human death from the infection.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there are still no cases of human-to-human infection, and that the risk of people contracting the virus is low. However, in the country’s only pediatric case, the agency has yet to determine how an Alameda County child picked up the virus in November. The child recovered from the upper respiratory infection in a matter of days and no other family members tested positive, according to the California Public Health Department.

In the 66 cases that have been recorded throughout the country, people were sickened after being exposed to sick animals. Properly cooking chicken, beef and eggs eliminates the risk, as does the pasteurization process, which kills germs in milk. But the CDC has cautioned the public about drinking raw milk and products using raw milk, which include cheese, ice cream and yogurt.

“Based on the limited research and information available, we do not know at this time if avian influenza A viruses can be transmitted to people through consumption of raw milk and products (such as cheese) made from raw milk from infected cows,” the CDC says on its website.

California takes action

California Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency for avian flu, also known as H5N1, on Dec. 18, saying, “I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist due to Bird Flu.” The proclamation enables state agencies to mobilize to monitor and address the threat.

While tests show the country’s commercial milk supply is safe, detection of H5NI in samples of raw milk have led to two voluntary recalls in California, the Alameda County Public Health Department notes on its website: Raw Farm, LLC raw milk and cream products produced between Nov. 9 and Nov. 27; and Valley Milk Simply Bottled Raw Cow Milk and DESI Milk Raw Cow Milk distributed in quart, half-gallon and one-gallon jugs, coded Dec. 23 through Dec. 30.  

Bird flu is most commonly found in wild birds and poultry. But it also can infect mammals. In 2023, the World Health Organization found 34 cats infected in Poland, with 11 of of those animals dying from the H5NI. The virus was first detected in U.S. dairy cows in March. Last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture started requiring unpasteurized milk samples to be collected and shared with the agency for testing. 

“Among many outcomes, this will give farmers and farmworkers better confidence in the safety of their animals and ability to protect themselves,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in a Dec. 6 news release. “And it will put us on a path to quickly controlling and stopping the virus’ spread nationwide.” 

While some cases have been reported among California farm workers, their symptoms have been mild, according to the Alameda County Public Health Department. Mostly, the workers experienced conjunctivitis. 

Louisiana death

The person sickened in Louisiana was the first to contract a serious case of the illness and be hospitalized. The state Health Department said the person was over age 65 and had underlying medical conditions. The person also had contact with wild birds as well as a backyard flock.

No other human cases have been reported in Louisiana.

So far, 10 states have recorded human infections, with double-digit cases in California, Washington and Colorado. All 50 states have cases of infected poultry and 16, including California, have infected cattle.

Most cases in humans have been mild, mimicking the common cold, along with irritated eyes. A severe case could include difficulty breathing, high fever and seizures.

The seasonal flu vaccine does not cover H5N1. But people can prevent exposure to the virus by cooking meat and eggs, using pasteurized milk, and avoiding direct contact with wild birds and dead animals.

(Top photo: H5N1 virus, courtesy of CDC/Cynthia Goldsmith,Jacqueline Katz and Sherif R. Zaki)

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