The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on November 22 confirmed a case of bird flu (H5N1) in a California boy, the first reported bird flu infection in a child in the United States.

The CDC reports that the child is recovering, and the California Department of Public Health is investigating how the virus was contracted. Bird flu is usually carried by birds, but it can also infect animals, including dairy cows.

In 2024, more than 50 human cases of H5N1 have been reported among agricultural workers, with 29 cases in California. All cases involved mild symptoms such as pink eye. In Canada, a teenager recently tested positive for H5N1 and remains in critical condition.

Close contacts of both the California child and the Canadian teenager have tested negative for the virus. “To date, no person-to-person spread has been identified associated with any of the H5N1 avian influenza cases reported in the United States,” the CDC said.

Canadian doctors who treated the infected teenager shared the virus’ genetic information online, which revealed mutations that could improve its ability to infect humans. Katelyn Jetelina, MPH, PhDan epidemiologist and data scientist who founded the newsletter Your Local Epidemiologist.

“These changes alone do not mean that the virus is ready for efficient human-to-human spread, as many additional changes are likely required for this to happen,” Jetelina told Verywell.

How can you reduce the risk of bird flu infection?

A CDC spokesperson told Verywell that as long as bird flu persists in wild birds, poultry and dairy cows, sporadic infections are possible in people with direct or recreational exposure.

CDC urges businesses, farmers, and individuals to prioritize infection control to mitigate risks. This means avoiding exposure to sick or dead animals, animal feces, unpasteurized or raw milk, or materials that have been touched by potentially infected birds or animals. Persons working in close proximity to farm animals should wear appropriate personal protective equipment and equipment such as masks, gloves and plastic gowns over clothing.

“Following these recommendations is critical to reducing an individual’s risk and limiting the overall risk to public health,” the CDC says.

People who go hunting should also follow CDC-recommended precautions because those animals could also contract and harbor H5N1, he said. Shira Doron, MD, chief infection control officer at Tufts Medicine.

Can you be vaccinated against bird flu?

There is no bird flu vaccine for humans at this time. However, the seasonal flu vaccine can help reduce the risk of viral mutations, according to Robert Hopkins, MD, medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.

“The flu vaccine we get is not likely to protect against H5N1, but flu viruses can share genetic material, so if you get two viruses, there can be reassortment of the viruses, which can lead to another, more serious virus developing,” Hopkins. he said to Verywell.

People exposed to bird flu who develop symptoms should be treated with Tamiflu as soon as possible. The CDC also recommends the drug for people exposed to infected animals without protective equipment or with damaged equipment that may have increased their risk.

Children and teens may experience more severe symptoms because of their lower exposure to infections and seasonal flu vaccines, Hopkins said. However, the CDC notes that there is a wide range of symptoms seen in younger people, from mild to severe.

If H5N1 begins to spread widely in humans, vaccine candidates are being evaluated and could become available, Hopkins said.