According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, On November 22, 2024, the CDC confirmed that a child in California is the first known pediatric case of H5N1 avian influenza in the United States. The child exhibited mild symptoms and was treated with antivirals and is currently recovering at home.
This case is part of a outbreak that has resulted in 55 confirmed human cases across seven states this year with 29 cases in California alone.
A minor in California has been confirmed as the first US child to contract bird flu specifically the H5N1 strain. The child exhibited mild symptoms, received antiviral treatment and is recovering.
This case raises the total number of avian flu cases in the US this year to 55 with California accounting for 29 of those cases. Most infections have been among farmworkers.
The recent case in California is alarming because the child had no known contact with infected animals. Experts are concerned that this could show potential human-to-human transmission.
Currently, there is no evidence of such transmission, but health officials are investigating possible exposure routes.
The bird flu outbreak has impacted livestock particularly dairy cattle and poultry with California being the epicenter.
Since March 2024, over 402 infected herds have been identified in California alone contributing to a national total of 505 herds affected across 15 states.
The CDC continues to monitor the situation and has confirmed multiple human cases linked to exposure to infected animals. They recommend that individuals exposed to avian influenza be monitored for symptoms and tested if necessary.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, Public health officials maintain that the immediate risk to the general public remains low. In addition to US cases, a teenager in British Columbia was hospitalized due to bird flu.
A human case of bird flu has been reported in Puri district, Odisha. The health department is monitoring the situation.
Bird flu outbreaks have been confirmed in Alappuzha and Kottayam districts of Kerala, where ducks tested positive for H5N1. Authorities are culling domestic birds within a one-kilometer radius of the affected areas and have initiated response measures.
The US FDA announced that about 20% of commercial milk samples tested positive for traces of bird flu. They clarified that pasteurization makes the milk safe for consumption, as it kills harmful pathogens. No human transmission or mutations of the virus have been detected.
Uttarakhand has become the tenth Indian state to confirm bird flu cases following outbreaks in several other states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi. The Union Ministry has issued advisories to monitor unusual bird mortality and prevent further spread.
In England, HPAI H5N1 was confirmed in commercial poultry near Cornwall leading to culling and the establishment of protection and surveillance zones. This follows earlier detections of Flu in wild birds across the country.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, the USDA has reported 62 additional avian flu outbreaks in California’s dairy farms, raising the state’s total to 398 since late August and the national total to 612.
Recent poultry outbreaks have been reported not just in California but also in Midwestern states including Illinois and South Dakota. Illinois confirmed its first outbreak since February 2023 involving a commercial farm with 5,600 birds.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced the first confirmed case of avian influenza A (H5N1) in a child in the United States specifically in Alameda County. The child exhibited mild respiratory symptoms and is recovering at home after receiving antiviral treatment.
Initial tests showed low levels of viral material, but follow-up tests four days later returned negative for H5N1 while being positive for other common respiratory viruses.
All household members of the child reported symptoms but tested negative, showing no evidence of person-to-person transmission.
This case contributes to a total of 55 human H5N1 cases reported in the US this year, with 29 cases in California alone.
Most infections have been linked to contact with infected animals particularly among farmworkers. The CDC continues to monitor the situation closely.
California health officials are investigating sources of exposure for the child including possible contact with wild birds. The CDC has reiterated that sporadic human infections without known animal exposure are rare but have occurred in other countries.
Since April 2024, the CDC has confirmed 55 human cases of H5N1 in the United States primarily among farm workers exposed to infected animals.
Most cases have been mild with symptoms like conjunctivitis and mild respiratory issues and there have been no hospitalizations reported so far.
The majority of infections are linked to dairy cows and poultry with California reporting the highest number of cases.
Genetic sequencing has revealed that the virus affecting humans in California is different from strains infecting dairy cattle.
The H5N1 virus has been detected in various animals across multiple continents including outbreaks in dairy cattle and wild birds.
Reports show that it has led to mortality rates in affected species including cats that consumed unpasteurized milk from infected cows.
Other countries such as Cambodia have reported human cases of H5N1 as well, with some fatalities.
Japan’s agriculture ministry convened an emergency online meeting on November 21, 2024 in response to a outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza across the country. This meeting involved officials from various prefectural governments and to address the situation.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, Agriculture Minister Taku Eto addressed the need for immediate action, stating that the disease could have a “huge impact on egg supplies and prices, and thus on people’s diets”.
The ministry recommended sanitary controls including strategies such as sprinkling water during poultry house ventilation to reduce dust-borne virus transmission. Additionally, they advised postponing non-urgent construction projects to limit visitor access to farms.
As of the meeting date, Japan had confirmed 10 bird flu outbreaks in eight prefectures since October 17, with cases rising at a rate similar to the record levels seen in 2022.
The latest outbreak involved the culling of approximately 92,000 chickens in Kagawa prefecture following the detection of the H5 strain of the virus.
Genetic sequencing of the virus revealed three mutations that could facilitate its ability to bind to human cells. These mutations may allow the virus to transition from targeting avian receptors (alpha 2,3 sialic acids) to human receptors (alpha 2,6 sialic acids), which are primarily found in the respiratory tract and eyes of humans.
As of now, there is no evidence that this mutated strain has spread beyond the infected teenager. Public health officials in British Columbia have monitored contacts of the patient and reported no additional cases.
In the United States, there have been 53 confirmed human cases of H5N1 in 2024 primarily linked to contact with infected animals. These cases have generally resulted in mild symptoms and have not required hospitalization.
Bird Flu Outbreak Statistics, As of Latest Bird Flu News Reports (November 2024)
As of November 2024, the CDC has confirmed 55 human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States this year with 29 cases reported in California alone. A recent case involved a child in California who exhibited mild symptoms but had no known contact with infected animals.
The outbreak has affected poultry and dairy cattle. Since March 2024, the USDA has confirmed infections in 505 dairy herds across 15 states with California experiencing the highest number of new infections.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, approximately 25.61 million birds have been affected due to H5 detections in both commercial and backyard flocks. The spread among livestock has necessitated culling measures to control outbreaks among poultry farmers who have faced losses due to the virus.
California has reported numerous cases among farm workers exposed to infected poultry and dairy cows. The CDC’s findings show that 26 cases among dairy farm workers were confirmed in California.
While specific data on Utah was not addressed in the latest reports, it is part of the multistate response to avian influenza. Utah’s proximity to affected areas puts it at risk for outbreaks especially given that bird flu can spread through migratory birds.
Since January 2024, there have been 53 confirmed human cases of avian influenza in the United States alone with 21 cases linked to H5N1 and 30 to infected dairy cows.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, Globally, since 2003, over 890 sporadic human infections with A(H5N1) have been reported across more than 23 countries.
The majority of cases occurred among farm workers in California and Oregon. These workers reported mild symptoms primarily conjunctivitis and mild upper respiratory issues.
Between March and June 2024, Vietnam reported 14 new human cases including one case of A(H5N1).
Countries such as Bangladesh and Cambodia have also reported sporadic cases over the years. Cambodia has had multiple cases since 2003 with several fatalities.
While specific age demographics for the 2024 cases are not detailed in the sources, historically, most human infections have occurred in adults who work closely with poultry.
The CDC addresses that most recent cases involve farm workers who are typically adults aged between 20 to 60 years old.
Most recent infections in the US have resulted in mild symptoms. However, A(H5N1) infections can lead to illness or death, globally, from 2003 to December 2023, there were 248 reported cases resulting in 139 fatalities.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, the ongoing avian influenza outbreak particularly the H5N1 strain has led to culling of birds worldwide in 2024.
As of mid-November 2024, the total number of poultry affected globally has reached approximately 107.7 million birds across 48 states in the US.
Over 107 million poultry have been reported affected with many culled as a preventive measure.
The USDA has recorded outbreaks leading to extensive culling efforts. For instance, in Utah, approximately 100,000 chickens and turkeys were culled due to outbreaks.
In Kerala, more than 60,000 birds were culled following an outbreak detected in ducks.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, 2003-2020 Outbreaks: H5N1 primarily affected birds and had limited spillover into humans with fewer than 900 human cases reported globally between 2003 and early 2024.
In the US, over 100 million birds have been affected since 2022 with approximately 11 million birds lost in 2024 alone due to culling and disease management efforts.
The recent data indicates that 8.8 million birds were lost in April 2024. The USDA reported that it paid poultry producers over $500 million in 2023 for culled birds due to HPAI.
Additionally, egg prices have seen extreme volatility with farm-level egg prices plummeting by 23.2% in March 2024 after a prior spike.
The culling of infected birds and trade restrictions have led to billions of dollars in losses. Historical data from previous outbreaks such as the 2015 outbreak, which resulted in over 50 million birds culled.
The current situation has also started emergency funding measures, for example, the USDA approved $1.3 billion to address nationwide detection and management efforts related to HPAI.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, In 2024, egg prices reached an average of $4.82 per dozen.
The USDA has confirmed infections in 505 dairy herds across 15 states with California being the most affected. Additionally, there have been detections in 50 commercial poultry flocks and 38 backyard flocks, affecting a total of approximately 25.61 million birds.
The CDC’s surveillance since February has included testing various specimens for H5 viruses. In the week ending November 16, 2024, a total of 60,189 specimens were tested with a small percentage returning positive for influenza viruses.
The CDC continues to recommend oseltamivir (Tamiflu) for treating patients with H5N1 infections and for post-exposure prophylaxis for close contacts of confirmed cases. This recommendation is based on its effectiveness in reducing the symptoms when administered within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Baloxavir marboxil, another antiviral has been associated with decreased susceptibility in some H5N1 strains. Specifically, a genetic change known as PA-I38M was identified in a virus from a human case, which is linked to reduced effectiveness against this medication.
However, baloxavir is not currently recommended for H5N1 treatment due to insufficient data on its efficacy in humans infected with this virus.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, a genetic change was found in some H5N1 strains that may reduce susceptibility to oseltamivir. This change has been sporadically detected in seasonal influenza viruses but has not been observed in H5N1 viruses.
Importantly, while it may show reduced inhibition in laboratory settings, it does not equate to full resistance or impact clinical outcomes.
As of November 18, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported a total of 52 human cases of avian influenza A(H5N1) in the United States since April 2024.
The breakdown of these cases indicates that 21 were associated with infected poultry, while 30 were linked to dairy cows.
All cases have occurred among farm workers who had direct exposure to infected animals and all reported symptoms have been mild primarily involving conjunctivitis and some upper respiratory issues.
There have been no hospitalizations or identified instances of person-to-person transmission in the US.
The CDC has addressed that the overall risk to the general public remains low, although individuals with direct contact with infected animals are at a higher risk of infection.
Since 2003, there have been fewer than 900 reported human cases globally with a mortality rate exceeding 50%, approximately 493 deaths.
Since March 2024, the USDA has confirmed infections in 505 dairy herds across 15 states with California being particularly affected.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, the total number of birds impacted by H5N1 has reached approximately 25.61 million including both commercial poultry flocks and backyard birds.
The mortality rate among infected cattle has been reported at around 15%.
As of now, specific vaccination rates for poultry populations against H5N1 are not detailed in the available reports.
According to the latest Bird Flu news reports, the US Department of Agriculture has been actively involved in monitoring and responding to outbreaks. Since April 2024, there have been detections of H5N1 in 50 commercial poultry flocks and 38 backyard flocks affecting a total of 25.61 million birds.
Other Important News, As of Latest Bird Flu News Reports (November 2024)
The CDC is actively monitoring over 6,700 individuals who have been exposed to infected animals as part of its response to the H5N1 avian influenza outbreak in the United States.
Most of these cases have occurred among farm workers particularly in California and Washington state. 26 of the confirmed cases were among dairy farm workers in California with symptoms reported as mild, including conjunctivitis and some upper respiratory issues.
On November 12 and 13, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted a media tour to educate journalists about the risks associated with avian influenza specifically the H5N1 strain and the public health responses to the outbreak.
