California bird flu cases in farm workers likely underestimated
Farm workers avoid testing for bird flu fearing economic impact
Human bird flu cases in California may be underestimated, as farm workers avoid testing due to economic worries, according to a labour union and a state expert. Since early October, bird flu has affected 15 dairy farm workers in California, where the virus has quickly spread to over 130 dairy herds since August. Elizabeth Strater, national vice president of the United Farm Workers labour union, stated that farm workers with bird flu symptoms have avoided testing out of fear they would need to isolate at home without pay.
Strater highlighted the significant undercount of cases due to the lack of an effective monitoring system, as workers are reluctant to test. Symptoms of the virus in humans, such as fever and conjunctivitis, are often not severe enough to risk losing income, she added. The California Department of Public Health’s guidance mandates isolation for those who test positive until public health officials confirm they no longer pose a risk of spreading the virus.
California’s state epidemiologist, Erica Pan, acknowledged the potential undercount among workers. Pan noted that individuals with milder symptoms might not come forward for testing. The state collaborates with a multilingual team from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in California’s Central Valley, where most cases have occurred, to investigate human infections.
🐮Exclusive: Emails from FOIA show why surveillance for human bird flu cases has been marred by delays & blind spots.
As a result, we can’t answer basic questions – like why cases have more than doubled within a few weeks.
My latest @KFFHealthNews
🧵https://t.co/ok7FjsaKqz— Amy Maxmen, PhD (@amymaxmen) October 25, 2024
A spokesperson for the California Department of Industrial Relations mentioned that farm workers contracting avian flu on the job are eligible for workers’ compensation. The CDC is investing $5 million in a seasonal flu vaccine campaign targeted at farm workers to reduce the risk of simultaneous infections with bird flu and seasonal flu, which could potentially lead to virus mutations.
What Other Media Are Saying
- CIDRAP reports two more H5 avian influenza infections in dairy workers in California’s Central Valley, raising the state’s total to 15, and national human H5 infections to 27 this year.(read more)
- KFF Health News reports on two more confirmed avian flu cases in California, raising the state total to 15 and the US total to 27, with no indications of slowing down despite state and industry pushback on testing protocols.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Why might bird flu cases in California be underestimated?
Farm workers avoid testing due to fear of losing pay if they need to isolate.
How many dairy farm workers in California have been affected by bird flu since early October?
Fifteen dairy farm workers.
What are the symptoms of bird flu in humans?
Symptoms include fever and conjunctivitis.
What is the California Department of Public Health’s guidance for those who test positive for bird flu?
They must isolate until public health officials confirm they no longer pose a risk.
Are farm workers eligible for any compensation if they contract avian flu on the job?
Yes, they are eligible for workers’ compensation.
