1. California's Dept of Public Health reports a #birdflu case in a child with no known contact with infected animals. They're looking into possible wild bird exposure. Oddly, the press release doesn't say which type of bird flu (there are many). I'm assuming #H5N1. Specimen being sent to #CDC. - ThreadSky

helenbranswell.bsky.social • 100 days ago

1. California's Dept of Public Health reports a #birdflu case in a child with no known contact with infected animals. They're looking into possible wild bird exposure.
Oddly, the press release doesn't say which type of bird flu (there are many). I'm assuming #H5N1. Specimen being sent to #CDC.

Comments

jennyedwards.bsky.social•100 days ago

I worry about what might be planned for wild birds if H5N1 strains are found that can spread to humans

eckerleisabella.bsky.social•100 days ago

I‘d be curious to know why the child was tested in the first place.

sofiagastellu.bsky.social•100 days ago

No child in the world can be tested for covid, let alone #birdflu, if their symptoms are not severe. Even if they are severe, they are often underestimated as “it's a virus” and so there is underreporting. You must have had clear symptoms that they do not specify.

eckerleisabella.bsky.social•100 days ago

It could have been a regular test for flu (although I agree unusual with mild symptoms) that turned out to be influenza A positive but none of the two seasonal strains -> would trigger search for zoonotic influenza in our lab at least

sofiagastellu.bsky.social•100 days ago

Dr. Eckerle, thank you very much for your thoughtful response. are right, of course. I wish children were tested with mild symptoms, but that is not usually the case. In any case, it is worrisome and to follow up.

ramouskodes.bsky.social•100 days ago

Had symptoms and is in area where testing is available due to the recent outbreak

tirolianalps.bsky.social•98 days ago

Helen, is there concrete evidence re: would someone acquire #birdflu by touching a deceased animal or merely by being near an infected one?

andromache6.bsky.social•100 days ago

Or, this child had/has the telltale red eye conjunctivitis symptom...

louisefoster.bsky.social•100 days ago

📌

ba55fr33k.bsky.social•100 days ago

.. sometimes they announce before lab confirmation so they may not know what strain for sure .. its important to get the warning out early but with no point of contact listed is it meaningful?

begrudginglyyeast.bsky.social•100 days ago

This tells me that this has been happening for a while and not getting noticed...

rf2048.bsky.social•100 days ago

That’s good. So the mortality is very low. And the spread hasn’t caused a significant jump in flu ED visits yet.

begrudginglyyeast.bsky.social•100 days ago

Primarily it says that there are lots of people out there getting zoonotic H5 and not getting noticed and probably have been for some time

rf2048.bsky.social•100 days ago

The CDC serological survey this summer showed about 7% of dairy workers had H5N1 antibodies, which would support that claim.

begrudginglyyeast.bsky.social•100 days ago

That is people directly adjacent to a known agricultural outbreak. I find myself suspecting that there is a bunch of H5N1 separately getting into people from wild birds that isn't getting noticed.

rf2048.bsky.social•100 days ago

Oh yeah, that’s very possible. So far no evidence of H2H though!

begrudginglyyeast.bsky.social•100 days ago

Especially because of recent research in ferrets showing that previous immunity against the current seasonal H1N1 prevents severe H5N1 disease, even if it does nothing to prevent infection.

virusemergentes.bsky.social•100 days ago

This is what usually happens

musermom.bsky.social•100 days ago

No known exposure and “mild symptoms” so why were they testing this kid for bird flu 🤔 Feels like reporters are actively ignoring this story entirely because their audience has “pandemic fatigue”

begrudginglyyeast.bsky.social•100 days ago

Some states randomly test a subset of positive influenza A tests for H5. Probably not suspected and caught up in a screen.

shademar.bsky.social•100 days ago

Very much hoping it's not the BC variant.

randvegan.bsky.social•100 days ago

Given it’s high mortality right, can it really spread as significantly as lower mortality virus like covid?

arisechicken.bsky.social•100 days ago

Reluctantly 'liking', this is scary stuff. Thanks for keeping us informed.

kentindell.bsky.social•100 days ago

I hope they shipped it priority: it has to get to CDC before CDC is closed down on January 20th.

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