California health officials are investigating a potential case of bird flu in a child who fell ill after consuming raw milk, Marin County Public Health announced Tuesday. The child experienced fever and vomiting in November and tested positive for influenza A. The raw milk consumed was sold under the Raw Farm brand.
Last month, Raw Farm, based in Fresno, paused production and recalled certain milk and cream products after the California Department of Public Health detected bird flu virus in samples. The company’s herd is currently under quarantine, and production remains halted.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is conducting further tests to confirm if the child had H5N1 bird flu. Initial results for H5 flu have been negative, but testing is ongoing. The child has since recovered, and no other family members have reported illness.
California health authorities have raised concerns about the risks of consuming raw dairy products, which are not pasteurized and may carry harmful pathogens, including the bird flu virus. Unlike pasteurized milk, which undergoes heat treatment to eliminate pathogens, raw milk can harbor bacteria such as listeria, salmonella, and E. coli.
Human avian influenza symptoms include typical flu-like symptoms.
Bird flu continues to affect wild birds, poultry, and dairy cattle across the US. Although person-to-person transmission hasn’t been observed, scientists remain cautious about potential mutations that could facilitate human-to-human spread. The US Department of Agriculture has recently announced expanded testing of milk slated for pasteurization to monitor bird flu spread.
In 2024, the US has reported 58 human cases of bird flu, including 32 in California. Most involve farm workers in contact with infected animals. Last month, California identified the first US case in a child. While the virus resembled strains found in cattle and poultry, the exact exposure source remains unclear.
The California Department of Health advises healthcare providers to consider bird flu in patients with acute respiratory symptoms or conjunctivitis who have recently consumed raw dairy products or been exposed to infected animals. Symptoms of bird flu in humans include fever, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, vomiting, and fatigue.
