Bird flu confirmed in child for first time in US: CDC

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that bird flu was found in a child in California, according to a press release issued Friday.

The case is the first reported such infection in a child in the U.S., according to the release. It was detected through influenza testing and reported to the California Department of Public Health through influenza surveillance, the release noted.

This case marks 55 total cases reported in the U.S. this year, with 29 of them being in California, the release said.

The release said that after initial testing, there were low levels of viral material collected, and follow-up testing several days later revealed that the child was negative for bird flu, but was positive for other respiratory viruses.

The release noted the child reportedly had mild symptoms, received flu antivirals and is now recovering from the illness.

The CDC said there is no evidence of person-to-person spread of bird flu from the child to others and there has been no person-to-person spread associated with the virus reported in the U.S.

The risk assessment for the public is low, though people exposed to animals such as birds, dairy cattle or other livestock that are infected or potentially infected with the virus are at higher risk, according to the CDC.