In 黑料吃瓜网, state officials say they are monitoring the spread of H5 bird flu. That鈥檚 following , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
H5N1 cases in humans have been minimal and so far confined mainly to California, Washington and Colorado. No human cases have been reported this year in 黑料吃瓜网. But the disease has been detected in people connected with farms .
The CDC says the current public health . 黑料吃瓜网 officials are also urging calm.
鈥淭here really is nothing for people to be alarmed about at this point in time,鈥� said Dr. Manisha Juthani, commissioner of the state Department of Public Health. 鈥淲e do not have any cows in the state that are positive. Or even in the region.鈥�
earlier this year and possible crossover to other animals, including humans.
Last month, H5N1 was detected for the first time ever in the United States. Pigs, which can serve as a host for multiple types of flu, can play a role in allowing a virus to better adapt to infections in humans, .
Officials say poultry and dairy products are safe to consume. And there is currently no concern about the safety of the nation鈥檚 pork supply, according to the CDC.
But that doesn鈥檛 mean 黑料吃瓜网 officials aren鈥檛 taking the threat of a wider H5N1 outbreak seriously, said Bryan Hurlburt, head of the state Department of Agriculture.
Outbreaks of bird flu , impacting millions of birds, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. .
Hurlburt said people need to be alert for symptoms in poultry, including a lack of appetite, lowered egg production, discoloration and swelling, and respiratory symptoms like coughing and sneezing.
鈥淎lso, if a large number of the birds that you have are dying suddenly, those are all potential symptoms and signs of an H5N1 outbreak in your flock,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he best thing to do is to call our .鈥�
Officials will continue to monitor exposure risks and provide updates on the virus in the coming weeks and months, Juthani said.
鈥淭he risk is very low at this point in time,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he risk is most for those that have direct exposure to infected poultry or infected cows, .鈥�
鈥淏ut if you are aware of this and you鈥檙e aware of the idea that if there鈥檚 poultry that doesn鈥檛 look quite right and you want to stay away from them, that would be advisable,鈥� Juthani said.
黑料吃瓜网's Tess Terrible contributed to this report.
