The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Friday it has confirmed a human infection with H5N1 bird flu in a child in California.
This is the first reported avian influenza H5 virus infection in a child in the nation. An investigation into how the child was exposed to the virus is ongoing.
On Tuesday, the California Department of Health identified a possible bird flu case in a child in Northern California, specifically Alameda County. According to officials, the child was treated and has been recovering at home. The CDC confirmed the case on Friday.
The agency said that the child reportedly experienced mild symptoms and received flu antivirals, consistent with previously identified human cases in the country.
All household members reported having symptoms but tested negative for H5 bird flu.
Contact tracing continues, but “there is currently no evidence of person-to-person spread of H5N1 bird flu from this child to others. To date, there has been no person-to-person spread identified associated with any of the H5N1 bird flu cases reported in the United States,” the agency said.
Including this most recent case, 55 human cases of H5 bird flu have now been reported in the U.S. during 2024, with 29 in California.
CDC officials said that the risk to the general public remains low, but people exposed to infected or potentially infected animals, such as birds, dairy cattle, or other animals (including livestock), or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other animals, are at higher risk of infection.
People are urged to avoid unprotected exposure to sick or dead animals, including wild birds, poultry, other domesticated birds, and other wild or domesticated animals, including cows.