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.

    • doctorskull@lemmy.world
      6·
      14 hours 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
        110·
        13 hours 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?

          • intensely_human@lemm.ee
            15·
            9 hours 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.eeEnglish
              3·
              6 hours 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.

        • doctorskull@lemmy.world
          4·
          12 hours 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
            16·
            9 hours 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.eeEnglish
              4·
              8 hours 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?

        • atzanteol@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          9·
          12 hours 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.

          • intensely_human@lemm.ee
            19·
            9 hours ago

            What we learned from covid is that over-response to viruses is more dangerous than the viruses. We destabilized the world economy with our lockdowns and, preditctably, started WW3.

    • Kayday@lemmy.world
      2·
      6 hours 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.