File photo

The Madera County Department of Public Health (MCDPH), along with the California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Thursday that two human cases of H5N1 bird flu have been identified in the county.

The two individuals, one confirmed positive case and one presumptive positive case, were in contact with infected dairy cattle and each are reporting mild symptoms. Both patients are isolating at home and are being treated with antiviral medication, according to health officials.

As of Nov. 13, California has confirmed 22 human cases of bird flu associated with infected cattle as Central Valley dairies.

“Although there are confirmed human cases of bird flu in Madera County, the risk to the general public remains low,” stated Dr. Simon Paul, Public Health Officer. The virus was first detected in California in sick dairy cattle in August, and public health officials have been closely monitoring workers for illness at dairy facilities experiencing an outbreak of bird flu among their cattle herds.

Individuals with direct contact with infected animals are at increased risk of being infected with bird flu, with the MCDPH urging individuals in the dairy industry or working with potentially infected cattle to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) including N95 masks, eye protection and gloves.

As of this time there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus and there is no known link between the two reported cases in Madera County.

MCDPH has been actively working with dairy industry partners to help distribute PPE to farmworkers.

Exposed workers who experience symptoms are encouraged to receive testing through the MCDPH and notify the department at (559) 675-7893 or by emailing publichealth@maderacounty.com.