California Faces Major Bird Flu Outbreak

California is experiencing a significant outbreak of H5N1 bird flu, affecting both dairy cattle and humans. Two dairy workers in California's Central Valley have contracted the virus, marking the state's first human cases linked to infected cattle. The workers experienced mild symptoms, primarily conjunctivitis, and were not hospitalized. State and federal health officials, including the CDC, confirm that the risk to the general public remains low, but farmworkers face higher risks due to direct contact with infected animals. To date, 16 human cases have been reported in the U.S. this year, mostly among those exposed to infected dairy cows or poultry. California health authorities are actively monitoring the situation and distributing protective equipment to mitigate further spread among workers.