Bird flu virus found in Los Angeles County wastewater

Los Angeles County health officials said they have detected H5N1 bird flu virus in wastewater collected from the A.K.Warren Water Resource Facility in Carson.

The viral “hit” was detected on Oct.28 by WastewaterSCAN, an infectious disease monitoring network run by researchers at Stanford, Emory University and Verily, Alphabet Inc.’s life sciences organization.Hits were also seen during the last week in San José, Redwood City, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Sacramento, Santa Cruz, Marina and Turlock.

Climate & Environment The suit is the latest in a series of high-profile legal actions California officials have taken against petrochemical corporations and plastic manufacturers.Oct.31, 2024The Carson plant processes wastewater from roughly 50% of L.A.

County’s population, said Annabelle de St.Maurice, the L.A.

County Department of Public Health’s director of community outbreak and syndromic surveillance.Officials say they have not identified the source of the virus, but suggested a few possibilities, including discarded contaminated animal products and infected wild bird droppings.They are also “actively engaging key risk groups,” including dairy and meat-processing sites nearby.“The likely sources more likely appear to be from animal products, rather than wild birds,” De St.

Maurice said.She said the risk to the public remains low.H5N1 bird flu has been detected in 203 California dairy herds since August; 17 dairy workers have also been infected.Across the nation, 41 people have been infected — 21 from dairy cows, 19 from poultry and one unknown.

The USDA has reported 404 positive dairy herds in 14 states.This number does not include eight herds detected earlier this week in Utah.

It’s also been conclusively detected in a pig from Oregon.De St.

Maurice said the county routinely monitors and tests symptomatic birds, pets and wild mammals.In addition, she said, the county is working within the community to subtype flu specimens collected ...