By Jamie Martin
California’s health authorities have reported four additional probable cases of avian flu among dairy workers, with confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) still pending. These new cases were identified during proactive testing sessions over three days at various farms where infected cattle were present.
The individuals, all exposed to cattle from nine different farms, displayed mild symptoms, such as conjunctivitis, and none required hospitalization. The rise in cases follows California’s first reported outbreak in dairy cattle in the Central Valley, marking the state as one of the most affected in the U.S.
The outbreak, first detected in late August, has led to the confirmation of 100 H5N1 cases in dairy herds by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Should the CDC confirm these new findings, California's count of dairy worker infections could increase to 11, significantly contributing to the national total of 25 since the start of the year.
Delays in specimen shipping due to a federal holiday have postponed the arrival of these samples at the CDC, with expectations set for early this week.
The state’s health department continues to monitor the situation closely, reinforcing the importance of safety and proactive measures in controlling the spread of the virus among agricultural workers.
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Categories: National