Public health officials in California's Silicon Valley have made a significant discovery. Tests have revealed the presence of the bird flu virus in a container of raw milk purchased at a local store. This has led to a recall of the batch by the supplier, Raw Farm of Fresno County. As of now, no illnesses have been reported, but the potential risks are clear. Drinking or inhaling raw milk with the virus can lead to illness, and touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands after contact can also cause infection.

First Case of Avian Influenza in a Child in the US

Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control has confirmed the first case of avian influenza in a child in the United States. This case occurred in Alameda County in the East Bay region, which includes Berkeley and Oakland. The container of milk containing the virus was purchased in Santa Clara County at the south end of the Bay, part of the high-tech Silicon Valley. San Jose and Palo Alto are also in Santa Clara County.

Overview of Bird Flu Cases in the Country

This year, around 59 human cases of bird flu have been confirmed in the country, with 29 of them in California. The child affected, whose name and age have been withheld, is the only California case not involving a poultry or dairy worker with direct contact with infected animals. The Centers for Disease Control states that contact tracing is ongoing, but there is currently no evidence of person-to-person spread from this child to others. To date, no person-to-person spread has been identified in any of the H5N1 bird flu cases reported in the US.

Discovery of Bird Flu in Santa Clara County

The Santa Clara County public health laboratory found the bird flu virus in a sample of "cream top, whole raw milk" purchased at retail. A state laboratory confirmed the presence. As a result, a recall was issued targeting lot code 20241109 with a Best By date of 11/27/2024. California agriculture officials report that as of Friday, 402 dairy herds have been found with bird flu infections, an increase of 66 herds in just three days. California is the number one dairy state with around 1,100 dairy herds. The state Department of Food and Agriculture says that several dairies are expected to have their quarantines lifted in the coming week as their farms have fully recovered. All released dairies will be placed on a surveillance list for weekly testing through creameries to ensure continued monitoring of the virus in California.