Featured Image Credit: Jacob Wackerhausen/MATTHEW HATCHER/AFP via Getty Images
Topics: California, Health, US News, Animals
Ellie Kemp
Topics: California, Health, US News, Animals
California has declared a state of emergency after 34 people cases of bird flu were detected.
Governor Gavin Newsom took action on Wednesday (December 18) as cases of the avian influenza A (H5N1) subtype snowballed.
According to Cleveland Clinic, bird flu is spread to humans via an infected animal's bodily fluid.
This could be its spit, milk, poop or even 'respiratory droplets.'
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You can 'breathe it in' from small dust particles in animal habitats, or get it into your eyes, nose of mouth after touching bodily fluids.
It can cause some common cold and flu symptoms, but serious cases can quickly become fatal.
Bird flu has been detected in some 645 dairy cows in California since late August, but half these cases were only just identified in the last month alone.
The majority of the 34 humans infected are believed to be farmworkers who worked closely with infected cattle.
It comes as the first person to ever contract 'severe' bird flu in the US was hospitalized in critical condition.
It's suspected the person, who is over 65 and has underlying health issues, came into contact with an infected flock of birds in their backyard.
The CDC said: "While an investigation into the source of the infection in Louisiana is ongoing, it has been determined that the patient had exposure to sick and dead birds in backyard flocks.
"This is the first case of H5N1 bird flu in the US that has been linked to exposure to a backyard flock."
There have been a total of 61 bird flu cases throughout the country this year alone, although the CDC did confirm 'no person-to-person spread of H5 bird flu has been detected.'
There are 10 key signs of bird flu to be mindful of, although Cleveland Clinic claims some of the most recent cases in the US have caused pink eye and 'mild respiratory symptoms.'
Main symtoms include:
These symptoms can be mild or severe.
In some cases, bird flu can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, sepsis, brain swelling and respiratory failure.
If detected early enough, bird flu can be treated with antiviral medication.
A sore throat, fever and muscle aches can be treated with over-the-counter medicine as usual.
You should get plenty of rest and stay hydrated, too.