California dairy workers infected with bird flu worked on Tulare County dairy farms
Local health officials have confirmed that two dairy workers infected with the avian bird flu got sick while working in the Tulare County dairy industry.
The workers are employed at separate Tulare County dairy farms. They have developed mild symptoms and are being treated with antiviral medications, according to an update Friday from the Tulare County Health & Human Services Agency.
They are also being isolated at home for at least 10 days.
Carrie Monteiro, public information officer for the county health agency, said officials are doing contact tracing with anyone in the workers’ homes to find out if anyone else is infected. If anyone develops symptoms, they will also be treated, she said.
Tulare County’s cases of H5N1, or highly pathogenic avian influenza, are the 15th and 16th among dairy workers in the United States. The California cases were confirmed Thursday by the California Department of Public Health.
Nationwide, 14 states have reported cases of avian influenza in dairies, infecting 254 cow herds.
California, the nation’s leading milk producer, was among the last states in the nation to battle the highly infectious influenza in its cows.
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California announced the discovery of the virus on Aug. 30 after three herds at Central Valley dairies tested positive. Since then the number of infected herds has shot up to 53.
“Although there are now confirmed human cases of bird flu in our region, the risk to the general public remains low,” stated Dr. Thomas Overton, Deputy County Health Officer for Tulare County Public Health. “People who interact with potentially infected animals are at higher risk of getting bird flu and we continue our efforts to provide personal protective equipment for those workers. It is extremely important for those who work on dairy and poultry farms to take precautions and follow public health guidance to prevent future human cases of infection on facilities experiencing bird flu outbreaks.”
Monteiro said there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmissions of the H5N1 bird flu virus. And there is no known link or contact between the two confirmed human cases, suggesting only animal-to-human spread of the virus in California.
Tulare County health officials also remind dairy workers and their families to seek medical care if they begin showing symptoms that can include eye redness, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing, and fever.
This story was originally published October 4, 2024 at 1:26 PM.
