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Child treated for suspected bird flu in East Bay; virus hits San Joaquin County flock

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Child treated for suspected bird flu in East Bay; virus hits San Joaquin County flock

Health officials are investigating whether a child in Northern California reportedly suffering from mild respiratory symptoms has contracted bird flu.

Also on Monday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories confirmed that bird flu had spread to a commercial broiler flock in San Joaquin County, adding to recent cases announced throughout California in both animals and people.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture said the source of infection in the flocks in San Joaquin and two other California counties is under investigation. Other farms in the area will be tested to determine the extent of spread, according to the statement.

The infected child lives in Alameda County in the East Bay, where the city of Oakland is located, and tested positive for the virus despite not having any known contact with a infected animal, the California Department of Health reported Tuesday.

It's considered a "possible" case until the positive test is confirmed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California officials announced in a news release Tuesday.

The child, who state officials said has been treated, is recovering at home. Although the child had no known contact with an infected animal, public health officials said they are investigating whether they were exposed to wild birds.

The positive test showed "a low-level detection of the virus," meaning the child was not likely infectious to others, state officials reported. Repeat bird flu testing on the child four days later was negative, officials wrote, and additional testing showed the child was also positive for respiratory viruses that could be the cause of their cold and flu symptoms.

California officials said they sent specimens to the CDC for confirmatory testing.

The national public health agency is aware of the presumptive positive case of H5 avian influenza, a CDC spokesperson told Reuters, and is collaborating with the state's investigation, and said the agency will provide further updates as soon as possible.

Although human infections in the United States have been rare, according to the CDC, bird flu has infected 53 people since April.

Bird flu is a disease caused by a family of flu viruses primarily transmitted among birds.

Avian influenza viruses, according to the CDC and USDA, are classified into two groups: low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI) (often seen in wild birds) and HPAI, found mostly in domestic poultry. According to the CDC, LPAI viruses cause mild or no disease, and HPAI cause severe disease and high mortality rates in infected birds.

Bird flu cost the government at least $660 million by Feb. 2023, the Associated Press reported at the time, and has raised the price of eggs and poultry. Tens of millions of birds have been slaughtered to limit the spread of the virus.

Symptoms of bird flu include, according to the CDC:

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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