CDC Clears California Toddler After Bird Flu Scare

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded an investigation into a potential bird flu case involving a Marin County toddler, finding no evidence of the virus.

The child, who was brought to an emergency department with a fever and vomiting, initially triggered concerns about possible bird flu transmission because the toddler consumed raw milk.

Initial testing revealed that the child had influenza A — a category that includes both seasonal flu and H5 bird flu — and has since recovered.

Last month, a child in Alameda County was diagnosed with bird flu without a clear exposure pathway. That case, which resulted in mild respiratory symptoms, did not spread inside the family or at school. This follows the trend in other human bird flu cases where patients presented mild symptoms — primarily conjunctivitis and nasal stuffiness.

On Thursday, the San Francisco Zoo temporarily closed its indoor bird exhibits after a dead hawk found on its grounds tested positive for bird flu. The bird, a red-shouldered hawk, was a wild bird that lived on the grounds, and none of the zoo’s birds have tested positive for the disease so far.

There have been 58 recorded bird flu infections in people in the U.S. this year to date, with most previous cases linked to dairy and poultry workers. The virus can spread from sick cows or birds to people who breathe in droplets of the virus, handle dead animals, drink raw milk or have it splashed on their faces.

The raw milk industry finds itself at the center of this unfolding narrative. Mark McAfee of Raw Farm told the Los Angeles Times that contaminated milk may have reached 90,000 customers. Last month, bird flu genes were found while testing a batch of cream top, whole raw milk produced by Raw Farm, prompting a warning from the California Department of Public Health.

State health officials continue to monitor raw milk supplies, having suspended and recalled potentially infected batches. And although the Marin County case did not result in a confirmed infection, the primary recommendations remain consistent: avoid direct contact with infected animals, consume only pasteurized dairy products and seek medical attention if experiencing symptoms consistent with avian influenza.