Santa Cruz County health officers said bird flu has not shown up in the county, but residents should take precaution. (Stephen Baxter — Santa Cruz Local file)
SANTA CRUZ >> At least 67 people have become infected with the H5N1 bird flu virus in the United States since January 2024, with more than half of the cases in California. Although state and federal officials have said the public health risk from the virus is low, its rapid spread among livestock and wild birds has concerned many.
Here’s what Santa Cruz County health officials want you to know:
- There’s no evidence of bird flu within Santa Cruz County. County public health officials have been looking for traces of bird flu in the county’s wastewater for more than a year, said Dr. Karissa LeClair Cortez, the county’s deputy health officer. “This is certainly not something that’s newly coming onto our radar,” she said. However, it’s uncertain how many cases would be necessary to detect the virus in wastewater. County officials have also worked out plans with local poultry farmers and cattle ranchers to report and track any potential future cases, and instructed doctors to report any suspected cases to the health department.
- Santa Cruz County officials say the county is at “somewhat lower risk” for the spread of bird flu. Almost all of the 38 people infected with bird flu in California have been dairy workers directly exposed to infected cows. Elsewhere in the United States, birds have passed certain strains of the virus to humans. But those strains haven’t been detected in California, LeClair Cortez said. Santa Cruz County has no commercial dairy operations, putting it at a comparatively lower risk of bird flu, she said. The county has one commercial chicken farm, Aptos-based Glaum Egg Ranch. There are no documented cases of the virus spreading between humans, though some academics have said that could change if the virus mutates.
- People who work with livestock or birds should consider using protective equipment, especially goggles or face shields. The county health department has distributed some protective equipment to farms where workers interact directly with animals, LeClair Cortez said.
- Otherwise, make sure to wash hands frequently, especially around wild and domestic animals. “Especially for children who may be more likely to put things in their mouth, put things in their eyes, we really are encouraging parents to just be cautious,” LeClair Cortez said.
- Raw milk is even more of a health risk than normal. Unpasteurized raw milk can always harbor bacteria and viruses, and public health officials generally recommend against it. Bird flu can live in raw milk for up to five days, according to Stanford University research published in December. The California Department of Public Health has recalled multiple batches of raw milk in California after detections of bird flu. Within the past several months, Santa Cruz health officials briefly detected small traces of bird flu in the county’s wastewater. State and local health official investigators determined the traces were from contaminated dairy products poured down drains, LeClair Cortez said. “We’ve really been encouraging people to choose pasteurized products,” she said.
- If you think you could have been exposed to bird flu and have symptoms, see a doctor. Many of the symptoms of bird flu overlap with other respiratory illnesses — like a sore throat, cough and stuffy nose. One potential symptom of bird flu that stands out is red, inflamed eyes, LeClair Cortez said. A doctor can test for bird flu and, if needed, give antiviral drugs or other treatment.
For more information about bird flu, see pages from the California Department of Public Health and the U.S. Center for Disease Control.
Clarification: A statement about protective equipment distribution has been updated in this story.
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Jesse Kathan is a staff reporter for Santa Cruz Local through the California Local News Fellowship. They hold a master's degree in science communications from UC Santa Cruz.