Two dairy workers in California have contracted bird flu, bringing the total number of human cases in the U.S. this year to 16, according to health officials. Both workers were employed at separate farms in California’s Central Valley and developed mild symptoms, including conjunctivitis. Health authorities confirmed that the workers were infected through contact with cattle herds that had tested positive for the virus.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the confirmed cases on Thursday, stating that the workers represent the first human cases of bird flu in California during the current outbreak. The CDC emphasized that human-to-human transmission is not suspected, and both infections appear to have been caused by animal exposure.
Since March, the outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza has affected more than 250 dairy herds in 14 states. California’s Central Valley has been particularly hard-hit, with over 50 herds infected since August. Despite the spread of the virus among cattle and other animals, the CDC continues to assure the public that the risk to the general population remains low.
Similar cases have been reported this year in Colorado, Michigan, and Texas, where workers had direct contact with infected animals. An additional case in Missouri remains a mystery, as the infected individual had no known exposure to animals.
Health officials are continuing to monitor the situation closely, focusing on preventing the virus from spreading further among both animals and people.
