The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed a human infection with avian influenza A(H5N1) (H5N1 bird flu) in a child in California. This is the first reported avian influenza H5 virus infection in a child in the United States. Consistent with previously identified human cases in the United States, the child reportedly experienced mild symptoms and received flu antivirals. There were low levels of viral material detected in the initial specimen collected, and follow-up testing of the child several days later was negative for H5 bird flu but was positive for other common respiratory viruses. The child is recovering from their illness. An investigation by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) into the child’s possible H5N1 exposure source is ongoing.

  • ASDraptor@lemmy.autism.place
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    53
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    2 days ago

    Don’t worry next head of the cdc will tell everyone that it was a false alarm and there is nothing to worry aboute

    chuckles I’m in danger.

    • Admiral Patrick@dubvee.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      19
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      2 days ago

      I just bought a shitload of N95 masks on Amazon lol. Mostly they’re better and cheaper (in bulk) than dust masks I wear when I’m working in the yard (to keep my allergies from going haywire), but I feel they’re gonna come in handy for other things. They were $9.99 for a 50 pack. Just saying…

      I haven’t stocked up on toilet paper (yet?) mostly b/c I don’t expect the incoming administration to take this seriously enough to recommend any kind of stay at home guidelines.

      But yeah, I’m getting December 2019 vibes from these reports, and I don’t think the flu shot I got is for this strain.

      • cheers_queers@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        4
        ·
        edit-2
        1 day ago

        i second the bidet, but i had no issues getting toilet paper last time because i order from Who Gives a Crap, several months of TP at a time. fucking worth it.

        oh, and i get to enjoy the feeling of moral superiority for using bamboo TP. lol

      • MegaUltraChicken@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        14
        ·
        2 days ago

        I haven’t stocked up on toilet paper (yet?) mostly b/c I don’t expect the incoming administration to take this seriously enough to recommend any kind of stay at home guidelines.

        I feel obligated to bring up the pleasure that is having a bidet. Added one last time and I will never go back. Totally worth it.

      • Kayday@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        1 day ago

        From the WHO.

        The H5N1 virus remains as an animal virus that primarily infects animals. So far, close to 900 human infections have been reported since 2003, of which more than half were fatal. The H5N1 virus is constantly evolving and could potentially become easily transmissible from person to person. If this occurs, it could be the start of a new influenza pandemic, as was the case with the 1918 and 2009 H1N1 pandemics.

      • doctorskull@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        7
        ·
        1 day ago

        What danger?

        I think this is what they were referring to:

        CDC confirms H5N1 Bird Flu Infection in a Child in California

        • intensely_human@lemm.ee
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          arrow-down
          16
          ·
          1 day ago

          Yeah so humans now have a virus that can make us sick. Same as before. Same as all of history. So what’s the danger?

          • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            12
            ·
            1 day ago

            It’s amazing to see this attitude post-covid still…

            It’s rather self evident is it not? Any new virus that causes illness and death is a new risk. This virus is still adapting to humans so we don’t know what the actual risk from it is yet though. That doesn’t mean we ignore it.

          • doctorskull@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            6
            ·
            1 day ago

            Viruses can make human beings sick. This is dangerous for the human as it can result in them being sick. I hope this helps.

            • intensely_human@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              9
              ·
              1 day ago

              So exactly what I said? It can make people sick. Most viruses give people the sniffles and then it’s over. We’ve all been sick, so a virus that can make people sick isn’t a new state of affairs. It’s the same situation we’ve lived in for thousands of years.

              • cheers_queers@lemm.ee
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                6
                ·
                1 day ago

                a lot of lifelong conditions are triggered by viral infections. fibromyalgia, pots, and much more. i have fibro myself and i can tell you now that you don’t want to chance it. why be reckless?

            • intensely_human@lemm.ee
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              1
              arrow-down
              7
              ·
              1 day ago

              High in birds you mean, compared to other bird diseases? Or are you referring to people? Is this not the first case?

              • Player2@lemm.ee
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                5
                ·
                1 day ago

                High in humans. This is not the first case, the concerning part is that the disease seems to be becoming more infectious to humans. There have been previous isolated incidents but the trends right now are very concerning.

                  • raynethackery@lemmy.world
                    link
                    fedilink
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    ·
                    15 hours ago

                    First reported infection in a child in the USA. The question becomes how was it transmitted. Assuming the child is not exposed to infected poultry, then another vector must be responsible. The real danger is the mutation of the virus into a human to human transmissible strain. If an effective vaccine can’t be manufactured quickly, many deaths are possible. Now, I see in your previous comments that you say we have been living with viruses for thousands of years. That is true but that shouldn’t stop us from protecting ourselves. The deaths may be just a statistic to you but every death is a tragedy for someone.