News — LOS ANGELES (Dec. 27, 2024) -- Bird flu has landed in Los Angeles.
Officials from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported that tested positive for the bird flu, also called H5N1, after drinking raw milk. Shortly after, the officials reported the of the illness in a human.
But how much of a threat does the bird flu actually pose to humans?
“This is not yet a threat to everyday people who are not in close contact with affected animals, such as dairy cattle, poultry and wild birds, and we have not seen any human-to-human transmission of the virus,” said , director of Hospital Epidemiology at Cedars-Sinai and head of the medical center’s , which can test for bird flu and treat the most severe cases.
Though most human cases of H5N1 in the U.S. have been mild since the virus first appeared in 1997, Grein cautioned that the bird flu can be severe and is still evolving.
“We’re concerned that this virus now spreads more readily across mammals—cattle in particular—and as this virus mutates and adapts, it has the potential to spread even more easily,” he said. “We must remain vigilant.”
The Cedars-Sinai Â鶹´«Ã½room asked Grein what everyone should know about bird flu, including how to treat it and how to avoid getting sick.
How is bird flu different from seasonal flu?
They’re both from the same family of influenza viruses, but H5N1 binds to different cell receptors. They both cause similar symptoms—fever, sore throat, cough, muscle aches—but conjunctivitis appears to be more common with H5N1 patients who have had close contact with dairy cattle. Both viruses can cause mild illness or more severe forms like pneumonia, but these viruses behave differently. The flu generally follows more established seasonal patterns, whereas H5N1 is more unpredictable. We largely use the same antiviral—Tamiflu—to treat H5N1 as we do to treat seasonal influenza.
How can I know which type of flu I have?
There is no way to determine which virus you’ve contracted unless you get tested. As seasonal picks up, it will be really important to understand which virus you have. From a public health perspective, we need to understand what’s happening in the community. On a personal level, you’ll want to keep those around you safe, especially if you’ve contracted something beyond the typical seasonal flu.
Will my flu shot also protect me from H5N1?
The flu shot is our most powerful tool to protect yourself and those around you from seasonal influenza. But it likely does not confer protection against bird flu. Vaccines have been developed for H5N1, but they’re not widely available at this time, although some have been stored in a strategic national stockpile to be deployed in an emergency. Drugmakers are developing additional vaccines, and their development process would likely pick up if we began seeing H5N1 spread between humans.
How can I avoid bird flu?
Nearly all cases in humans have been in people who had close contact with dairy cattle, poultry or wild birds. Individuals who must be in contact with these animals should avoid cattle and birds if they appear sick. Also avoid drinking raw milk, which the virus can easily infect.
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