Overview

• Los Angeles County health officials confirmed the first human case of H5 bird flu in the area on Monday, involving an adult exposed to infected livestock at work.
• The patient experienced mild symptoms, was treated with antivirals, and is recovering at home; no evidence of person-to-person transmission has been reported.
• California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on December 18 after bird flu cases were detected in dairy cattle, with 36 human cases now reported in the state this year.
• Health officials are urging precautions, including avoiding raw milk and unprotected contact with sick or dead animals, and recommending the seasonal flu vaccine to reduce dual infection risks.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintains that the public health risk remains low but continues to monitor the situation as the virus spreads across livestock in multiple states.