The U.S. is in the midst of the worst outbreak of bird flu in recorded history.
In California, the virus has spread from wild birds and chickens to dairy cows and humans. There have been of 37 confirmed human cases the virus in the states. Nationally, there have been 66 confirmed human cases. One death has been reported.
So far, in Butte County, there have been no human infections, but the virus has been detected in birds – in a backyard chicken flock and a commercial game flock of waterfowl for hunting clubs.
"The risk to the general public is low," said Lisa Almaguer, public information officer for the Butte County Public Health Department. "Honestly, you have a greater risk of getting the seasonal influenza, COVID or RSV."
Despite the low risk to the public, the health department is monitoring for the disease. It analyzes influenza samples in a lab to determine if they're bird flu, and monitors people exposed to the virus for symptoms. Public health also monitors wastewater for the disease.
Almaguer said bird flu has been detected in 95% of wastewater sites in the state that have data available. However, she said it's hard to say exactly what that means.
"[The California Department of Public Health] is working towards a better understanding of these findings," she said. "As there's currently no way to differentiate between animal and human infections in wastewater."
The department believes the detections are likely from "agricultural inputs" in the water, she said, which includes infected milk being dumped down the drain and dairy cattle waste.
Public health also works to educate the public about the disease and distribute protective equipment upon request.
People in close contact with chickens should take precautions to protect themselves and their birds, Almaguer said. She recommends wearing gloves and a N95 face mask when handling the birds, and vigorously hand washing afterward.
For those with backyard chicken flocks, she advises having a separate pair of shoes for being around the coop that don’t get brought inside.
"You can also ensure that [the chicken's] food and water is not accessible to either rodents, ground animals or wild birds," Almaguer said.
