Health officials in California confirmed the state’s second human case of bird flu on Thursday, just hours after announcing the first, raising fears of an outbreak.
The second infected person, like the first, had contact with dairy cows that carried the pathogen. Both have mild symptoms, including pink eye.
The cases are not linked and there is no evidence the first person passed the infection to the second.
Fears about the spread of bird flu are increasing as the virus has been diagnosed for the first time in a patient in Missouri who had not come into contact with sick birds, livestock or other animals.
The second person infected with bird flu, like the first, came into contact with dairy cattle carrying the pathogen
Health officials in California claim the overall risk is to the public remains lowas there is no evidence that the virus can be transmitted from one person to another.
According to the California Department of Public Health, “People who come into contact with infected animals, such as dairy or poultry farm workers, are at greater risk of contracting bird flu.
‘CDPH recommends that personal protective equipment or PPE, such as respirators (N95 masks), eye protection (face shields or goggles), and gloves be worn by anyone working with animals or materials that are infected or potentially infected with the avian flu virus.’