Deadly bird flu detected in California after jumping to two new species for first time ever
Bird flu has jumped to two new species of marine mammals in California, igniting fears that the virus is mutating and could spread among humans.
Officials in San Mateo County, near San Francisco, have confirmed infections in a California sea lion and a southern sea otter, marking the first time ever that the virus has been detected in these species in the state.
No further details were revealed on the condition of the animals, but officials warned the cases were likely linked to an outbreak in the county’s elephant seal colony, where at least 30 seals have been infected.
Health officials have also detected bird flu in Marin County, on the other side of the Bay Area, where a common murre, a penguin-like sea bird, has also tested positive.
Officials in the state said the risk to the public remains ‘very low’.
As a precaution, people have been urged to avoid contact with stranded, sick or dead marine mammals and birds in order to avoid infection.
Experts are alarmed every time the virus spreads to new species because it raises the risk that it could mutate and become able to easily infect and spread form person-to-person.
Although concerning, the two new species infected are not thought to be ‘intermediate hosts’, or animals from which the virus could easily jump to humans.
Officials in California are raising the alarm over bird flu (Pictured above: USDA workers disinfect a work crew at a turkey farm in Minnesota, 2015. File photo)
The infections in the two new species, reported on Friday last week, were detected in Año Nuevo State Park.
The park hosts a colony of 10,000 elephant seals, one of the largest breeding colonies in the US, and is a major destination for people looking to view the seals via guided walks.
It was not clear how the animals became infected, but officials said contact with the feces or carcasses of infected seals, birds or other infected animals raises the risk of the virus jumping to a new species.
The infection in the common murre was reported on Wednesday in a bird at Kehoe Beach on the Point Reyes National Seashore, an area famous for dramatic surf and sand dunes that attracts about 2 million visitors every year.
Officials had tested three common murres and found that one tested positive for the virus.
The testing was ordered after officials noted a surge in the number of dead common murres in the area.
Officials at the National Park Service, which conducted the testing and raised the alarm over the infections, said: ‘The National Park Service reminds visitors that they should never approach or handle wildlife.
‘Keep pets on a leash in areas where pets are allowed and away from sick or dead wildlife to reduce the risk of infection and prevent further stress or injury to the wildlife.
Officials are concerned that bird flu could gain a mutation, making it better able to infect humans (stock image)
The above is a file photo that shows a health worker testing a dead seal in Peru in 2023
‘If you encounter sick or dead wildlife, maintain a safe distance and please report it to a visitor center, park staff or by phone or email.’
The warning came after more than 1,100 geese were found floating lifeless in waters across New Jersey this month, sparking concerns over a bird flu outbreak.
To date, more than 60 marine mammal species have been infected by bird flu since a major outbreak began in late 2020.
The virus has been ripping through the animal kingdom after it mutated to become more infectious and more likely to cause severe disease.
It has now infected a wide variety of animals besides birds, including cats, dogs, foxes, bears, skunks and even dolphins.
Researchers are closely tracking the infections and remain concerned that they could result in a mutation that allows the virus to spread to humans.
To date, 71 people in the US have been infected with bird flu and two people have died from the disease – but there has been no evidence of human-to-human transmission.
All but one case in people can be traced back to exposure to infected animals.
The vast majority of patients had direct contact either with dead birds or other infected animals, including cows.
In early 2024, the virus started to spread in cows and, to date, has infected 1,088 herds across the US.
In January last year, an individual in Louisiana became the first American to die from bird flu. The individual was reported to be over 65 years old, had underlying medical conditions and had been in contact with sick birds in a backyard flock.
In November, the second death was reported in a resident from Washington state. The individual was also reported to be an older adult with underlying conditions who suffered from a high fever, confusion and severe difficulty breathing.
The CDC says that the current risk bird flu poses to the US public is low.
