Bird flu symptoms to look out for after California declares a state of emergency over the virus

Bird flu is ravaging the US, with California declaring a state of emergency and the first hospitalization occurring in Louisiana.

A total of 61 people have been diagnosed with H5N1 since April 2024, and the CDC has identified another seven as “probable” cases.

Thirty-seven of the 61 cases have been traced to interactions with infected livestock, with the remaining infections resulting from touching sick birds or of unknown origin.

Only one of these patients was seriously ill.

One of the most common symptoms of human bird flu in this outbreak was conjunctivitis, or pink eye.

Two human cases reported in the US earlier this year showed only conjunctivitis. Those cases occurred in Texas and Michigan, both in farm workers who had come into contact with infected cows.

Other symptoms that have been reported include mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms, pneumonia requiring hospitalization, and a high temperature of more than 100ºC.

Milder symptoms include coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing.

Like Covid, avian flu virus infection in humans cannot be diagnosed based on clinical signs and symptoms alone; laboratory testing is necessary.

Swabs used to test for bird flu can be collected from the throat, nose or eye of the sick person.

The CDC emphasizes that testing is more accurate when the sample is collected during the first few days of illness.

In critically ill patients, collection and testing of lower respiratory tract samples can also lead to the diagnosis of avian influenza virus infection.

However, for some patients who are no longer very ill or who have fully recovered, it may be difficult to detect the bird flu virus in a specimen.

Earlier today, California declared a bird flu emergency in response to the outbreak among the state’s dairy cattle.

California has identified H5N1 in 645 dairy farms since its first detection in late August, according to the state’s agriculture department.

Nearly half of the cases have been reported in the last 30 days, underscoring the rapid spread of the virus.

Although California was not one of the first states to detect H5N1 in dairy cattle, the outbreak has increased significantly since the initial discovery.

The H5NI virus is mainly spread among wild birds and poultry on farms, but this year has also been found in dairy cows and humans

The announcement followed news that a person in Louisiana had been hospitalized with a severe case of H5N1.

The latest case in Louisiana is the first linked to a backyard poultry flock.

The CDC said in the alert: ‘A sporadic case of severe H5N1 avian flu illness in an individual is not unexpected.

‘Infection with the bird flu virus has previously been associated with serious human illness, including fatal illness, in other countries in 2024 and previous years.’

They added: ‘No person-to-person spread of H5 bird flu has been detected. This case does not change the CDC’s overall assessment of the immediate public health risk from H5N1 avian flu, which remains low.”

The hospitalized patient from Louisiana was first revealed Monday by the state health department, which said they were in the southwestern part of the state and that samples had been sent to the CDC for testing.

The CDC said the H5N1 infection was confirmed through testing last Friday and a partial viral DNA analysis showed the patient had the D1.1 variant.

Like all flu, the virus is spread primarily through airborne droplets that are inhaled or land in a person’s mouth, eyes, or nose.

It also said the case highlighted the need to take precautions around herds and backyard livestock to limit the risk of infection.

In their warning, they urged people to avoid contact with sick or dead animals, especially wild birds and poultry, as much as possible.

They also said those who have direct contact with the birds should wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and avoid touching surfaces – such as animal litter or bedding – that may have come into contact with infected animals.

In Canada, the teenager, who was sick with the same strain of bird flu, was hospitalized on November 8 after falling ill on November 2.

At last report in late November, the teen was still in hospital and in critical condition – needing help to breathe – but stable.

It was not clear how they had contracted the disease, dogs and reptiles they had come into contact with all tested negative.