First Bird Flu Case in US Child Confirmed

Health officials in California have confirmed the first reported case of H5N1 bird flu in a U.S. minor, with the child from Alameda County experiencing mild symptoms and recovering after antiviral treatment. The case raises the total of confirmed bird flu infections in the U.S. this year to 55, including 29 in California, primarily affecting farmworkers. Investigations are ongoing to determine how the child was infected, with a potential link to wild birds noted, although household members tested negative for the virus and showed signs of other respiratory infections. Notably, no human-to-human transmission has been documented in the U.S. for over 15 years. The spread of bird flu has been significant among wildlife and dairy cattle, particularly in California, which has reported 402 infected herds. Experts stress the low risk of public infection but emphasize the importance of protective measures for those in contact with infected animals.