Bird Flu Jump: 2 California Dairy Workers Infected With Bird Flu

Health officials in California confirmed that two dairy workers in the state have been infected with bird flu, marking the 15th and 16th human cases detected this year in the U.S. Both workers, who were employed at separate farms in the Central Valley, developed mild symptoms, including eye redness (conjunctivitis). Officials believe the infections occurred through contact with infected cattle, not from person-to-person transmission.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the positive test results on Thursday, noting that while the bird flu has recently spread to dairy cows, it is not unexpected for individuals exposed to infected animals to contract the virus. Despite the new cases, health authorities assured the public that the overall risk remains low.

Since the outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza began in March, more than 250 dairy herds in 14 states have been affected, with California’s Central Valley being one of the hardest-hit regions. The two workers represent the first confirmed cases in California, and there is no known link between them.

The CDC has been monitoring the situation closely, as the bird flu has primarily been a concern in wild and domestic birds in previous years. The spread to dairy cattle, however, has heightened attention. The most recent cases in California follow similar infections in workers from Colorado, Michigan, and Texas, where animal contact was also the likely source of transmission.