First Eight Cases of Avian Flu Detected in Wild Birds in Los Angeles County and Long Beach

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health or DPH has confirmed the first eight cases of avian flu in Los Angeles County, including three Canada geese and a black-crowned night heron in Long Beach near El Dorado Park, three Canada geese in the City of Los Angeles and one Canada goose in Cerritos. These cases are part of the ongoing nationwide bird flu outbreak, also known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) H5N1. Currently, the risk to the general public’s health from this H5N1 virus is low.

This avian influenza (AI), or bird flu, is a viral disease of birds caused by type A influenza viruses.

It is also of concern for domestic poultry as it is highly contagious and may cause illness and death in backyard and commercial flocks. It spreads through direct bird-to-bird contact or indirectly when virus is on clothing, footwear, vehicles, rodents, insects, feed, water, feathers, etc. Birds shed the virus in bodily fluids such as respiratory droplets, mucus, saliva, and feces.

Although the risk to the general public’s health from this H5N1 virus is low, human infections can happen when the virus is inhaled (in droplets or dust) or when it enters the person’s eyes, nose, or mouth (either through unprotected contact with infected birds or contact with contaminated surfaces). The spread of HPAI from one infected person to another is very rare. However, because AI viruses can change and gain the ability to spread easily between people, it is important to monitor for both human infection and person-to-person spread.

Details: The public may report dead birds using the VPH online reporting portal.

and https://tinyurl.com/avian-flu-LB