World

California confirms third human case of bird flu

CHICAGO, Illinois: A dairy worker in California who had contact with infected cattle was reported as the third human case of bird flu this week.

The California Department of Public Health said the state was identifying two more possible cases of people who have had contact with infected dairy cattle.

This follows a surge in infections of dairy cows in the biggest milk-producing U.S. state.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that nearly 300 dairy herds across 14 states have tested positive this year, with about a third of the cases found in California since late August. However, pasteurized milk and dairy products remain safe to consume, California’s public health department said.

Sixteen people exposed to dairy cows and poultry tested positive nationwide in 2024. Another person in Missouri who had no immediate known contact with animals also tested positive.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that human cases exposed to infected animals are “not unexpected,” but risks to the general public are low.

The California Department of Public Health said there is no known link or contact between any of California’s confirmed or possible cases, suggesting the virus spread from animals to humans.

Last week, California reported two human cases in dairy workers.

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