California Records Third Human Bird Flu Case in Dairy Worker

California has reported a third case of bird flu in a human, with the latest incident involving a dairy worker in contact with infected cattle. As infections in dairy herds continue to rise, officials anticipate confirming more human cases. The risk to the general public remains low.

California has confirmed a third human case of bird flu involving a dairy worker who was in contact with infected cattle. The state's Department of Public Health is also investigating two additional potential cases, anticipating more confirmations from those interacting with infected dairy cattle.

The state, known for its high milk production, has experienced a surge in infections among dairy cows, with nearly 300 herds across 14 states testing positive this year. One-third of these cases have been identified in California since late August, as stated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Federal health agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have assured the public that the risk remains low, even as the virus spreads from animals to humans. Notably, the cases involve no genetic changes in the virus linked to enhanced human transmission.