How Serious Is Bird Flu Outbreak?

01California officials have declared a state of emergency over the spread of bird flu.

02It is affecting milk cows in that state and causing illnesses in some people in other U.S.

03states.

04The avian influenza virus, or bird flu, has spread among wild birds, farm birds, and many mammal species.

05The virus is known as type A, H5N1.

06It was identified for the first time in U.S.

07milk cows in March.

08Since then, bird flu has been found in about one-third of U.S.

09states.

10The U.S.

11Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, is following the number of cases and is reporting the latest details on its website.

12Most of the illnesses have been mild.

13Health officials said that one person in Louisiana was hospitalized with the nation's first known severe illness caused by the virus.

14California Governor Gavin Newsom said he declared the state of emergency so state workers could take faster action.

15California officials have been testing milk tanks.

16They said they have found the virus in hundreds of herds.

17The virus was recently found in Southern California dairy farms.

18It was found in the state's Central Valley in August.

19The virus was found in the state of emergency.

20But some experts are worried because flu viruses are mutating all the time.

21And small genetic changes could take place.

22Health officials said the first known case of severe illness in the U.S.

23was found in a patient in Louisiana.

24The person is older than 65 and has other medical problems.

25Officials said the person showed severe breathing problems after being near a group of sick birds.

26The CDC said that the Louisiana case is the first confirmed U.S.

27infection connected with backyard birds, or birds kept near a home.

28Almost all the earlier infections in the U.S.

29have been in farm workers dealing with infected dairy cattle or birds.

30In two cases, an adult in Missouri and a child in California, health officials have not learned how they became infected.

31Angela Rasmussen is a virus expert at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

32She said, as more people become infected, more severe illnesses will be reported.

33Rasmussen said, The World Health Organization says on its website that from 2003 to November 2024, about 142 people died from the H5N1 virus around the world.

34Most of the deaths were in Southeast Asia.

35People who have contact with dairy cows, commercial poultry, or with backyard birds, are at higher risk than other people.

36CDC and other experts said those people should use breathing, eye, and hand protection, especially if the animals appear ill or if they die.

37The CDC said in July that it would buy $5 million in vaccines for farm workers to protect against seasonal flu.

38If someone becomes infected with two flu types at the same time, it might permit the bird flu virus to mutate and to become more dangerous.

39The H5N1 virus can also be spread in raw or unpasteurized milk.

40The U.S.

41Food and Drug Administration says pasteurized milk is safe to drink because the heat treatment kills the virus.

42But high levels of the virus have been found in unpasteurized milk.

43Health officials urge people to avoid drinking raw milk.

44It can spread other germs in addition to bird flu.

45The U.S.

46Agriculture Department has increased its testing of raw milk across the country to identify and contain avian flu.

47Federal officials ordered milk testing, which began this month in 13 states.

48I'm Ana Mateo.

49Federal officials ordered milk testing, which is a very good source of milk.

50Federal officials ordered milk testing, which is a very good source of milk testing.