United States: The child displaying symptoms of the suspected bird flu illness had taken raw milk before developing flu symptoms has sparked major health concerns in the region.
More about the news
According to the official statement, “[Marin County Public Health] is reporting a suspected case of bird flu in a child who experienced fever and vomiting after drinking raw milk,” as ABC News reported.
“The child has recovered, and no other family members became sick, indicating no person-to-person transmission,” it added.
Moreover, “MCPH is actively investigating this possible case of bird flu linked to raw milk consumption with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” as the statement continued.
It further noted that “raw milk, which hasn’t been pasteurized, poses a risk of spreading diseases, including influenza.” ABC News reported.
So far, there is only an indication that the child has bird flu disease while waiting for tests to be conducted.
However, officials are worried about the dangers of raw drinking milk; it is not pasteurized; the process was found to eliminate bacteria and viruses such as bird flu.
Right now, California has an active bird flu outbreak, and thirty-two human cases have been reported in the state altogether; the center claims that thirty-one of them stemmed from contact with infected cattle.
What more are the researchers stating?
Currently, researchers have not stationally established that people can contract bird flu from drinking raw milk, ABC News reported.
However, experiments with cats and mice, for example, indicate that the animals can contract sickness from raw milk that is contaminated with bird flu.
Moreover, the CDC recently reiterated that people should not consume raw milk, which may contain bacteria or viruses that cause stomach upsets.
In rare instances, it can result in worse-off illnesses like Guillain-Barre syndrome, which in turn leads to paralysis.
Between January 2004 and September of this year, the CDC has logged at least 58 human cases of bird flu in the US, most among farm workers handling affected poultry.