The primary human case of chicken flu in Los Angeles County has been detected as infections proceed to pop up throughout the state and nation.
L.A. County Division of Public Well being officers mentioned an grownup had delicate signs after they have been uncovered to contaminated livestock at a worksite. They’ve been handled with antiviral drugs and are recovering at residence, in line with the assertion by the well being division.
As of Dec. 20, the California Division of Public Well being mentioned there have been 36 confirmed human circumstances of chicken flu throughout the state. Days earlier, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Dec. 18 over the rising variety of infections, the identical day an individual in Louisiana was hospitalized with a “severe” case of the virus.
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Public danger of an infection stays low, and there hasn’t been proof of individual to individual unfold of the virus, the county division of public well being mentioned.
Officers are monitoring shut contacts of the contaminated particular person in addition to different workers who have been uncovered on the worksite for signs of chicken flu virus. They’ve been provided private protecting tools and antiviral prophylaxis, the division of public well being mentioned.
County officers are engaged on the investigation with the state division of public well being and the Facilities for Illness Management. No further circumstances of chicken flu virus have been recognized within the county.
Signs of chicken flu virus in people embody eye redness or discharge, fever, cough or problem respiratory, sore throat, muscle or physique aches, diarrhea and vomiting.
Those that work with contaminated animals, together with cows, poultry or wildlife, are at the next danger of publicity to the virus.
The county division of public well being is constant to work with the California Division of Meals and Agriculture and the county agricultural neighborhood to offer data and sources to guard farm employees, employees at dairy, meat and egg processing amenities and yard flock homeowners.
Officers are offering entry to gloves, face masks, eye safety, testing and flu vaccines.
Anybody who was uncovered to contaminated animals and is experiencing signs of chicken flu virus ought to instantly name their well being care supplier and native well being division.
Whereas working with animals, their feces, water sources or uncooked milk, individuals can shield themselves by carrying private protecting tools, like gloves, N-95 masks, goggles, coveralls that maintain you dry, head or hair covers and boots or boot covers, the division mentioned. Staff must also wash their fingers all through the day and earlier than touching their face and bathe and alter out of their work garments earlier than going residence or instantly after they get residence.
Officers additionally discourage ingesting uncooked milk and different uncooked merchandise or feeding them to pets as uncooked milk, uncooked cheese or undercooked meat merchandise from contaminated animals might unfold the virus. Public well being officers not too long ago investigated the deaths of cats as a consequence of ingesting uncooked milk contaminated with chicken flu.
To cut back the unfold of chicken flu virus, individuals must also restrict unprotected contact with probably contaminated or lifeless animals and report sick or lifeless birds to an area animal management company. Individuals must also maintain their pets or poultry away from wild animals and take away chicken feeders and baths to cut back the unfold amongst birds.
Whereas it could actually’t forestall the chicken flu virus, county well being officers additionally suggest everybody get a flu vaccine to forestall them from getting human and chicken flu virus on the identical time.
Anybody with questions or who must discover a close by clinic or physician can name the Public Well being InfoLine at 833-540-0473 on a regular basis between 8 a.m. and eight p.m.
