Breaking down the escalating U.S. bird flu situation – CBC

Dec 19, 2024

California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu, where infections in dairy cows are increasing and causing sporadic illnesses in people in the U.S.

That raises new questions about the virus, which has spread for years in wild birds, commercial poultry and many mammal species.

The virus, also known as Type A H5N1, was detected for the first time in U.S. dairy cattle in March. Since then, bird flu has been confirmed in at least 866 herds in 16 states.

More than 60 people in eight states have been infected, with mostly mild illnesses, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the first known severe illness caused by the virus, U.S. health officials said this week.

Here’s what you need to know.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/h5n1-california-louisiana-1.7415112