H5N1 Bird Flu Alert: California Confirms Low Public Risk with High Precautions for Agricultural Workers

Good afternoon. This is an official public health briefing titled H5N1 Bird Flu Briefing: Public Health Alert. Our purpose today is to inform the public about the latest developments in the H5N1 bird flu situation, outline current public health measures, and provide guidance to keep our communities safe.

The H5N1 avian influenza virus continues to impact both animal and human health, with recent confirmed outbreaks in poultry and dairy cattle across multiple states and new cases in California dairy herds as recently as March 2025. According to the California Department of Food and Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the current risk of H5N1 to the general public remains low because the virus does not easily transmit between people. However, monitoring remains rigorous due to the potential for the virus to change, which could increase its risk level. The alert level is currently set at Moderate Precaution for the general population, and High Precaution for agricultural workers and those in contact with live poultry or dairy cattle.

Symptoms of H5N1 infection can range from mild to severe. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience high fever above 101°F, shortness of breath, persistent vomiting or diarrhea, confusion, or chest pain, especially if you have had recent exposure to sick poultry, dairy cattle, or raw milk. Mild symptoms such as sore throat, mild cough, muscle aches, or low-grade fever may be monitored at home. If these symptoms worsen or you develop additional serious symptoms, contact your healthcare provider for guidance.

Containment protocols for those working with poultry, livestock, or in high-risk environments include mandatory use of personal protective equipment—N95 respirators, gloves, gowns, and eye protection at all times when handling potentially infected animals or materials. People exposed to sick birds or cattle must report symptoms immediately, seek prompt testing, limit contact with others until results are confirmed, and follow farm-specific quarantine and biosecurity measures. Recent directives mandate bi-monthly testing and ongoing surveillance for facilities previously affected.

Guidelines for the general public, in order of priority:
- First, if you do not work directly with farm animals or poultry, your risk is very low. There is no need for routine testing or panic.
- Second, avoid unnecessary contact with live or dead birds or mammals, and do not consume raw milk or eggs from sources suspected of H5N1 contamination.
- Third, everyone aged six months and older is encouraged to keep seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines current. These vaccines do not protect against H5N1 directly but may reduce the likelihood of severe disease and viral reassortment.
- Fourth, all individuals should practice good hand hygiene and avoid touching their eyes, nose, or mouth after contact with animals.
- Fifth, monitor for updates as this situation may evolve. Stay informed through official state and local health department channels.

For further information and emergency contacts, please contact your local public health department. In California, the Department of Public Health offers a hotline at 213-240-7491 for guidance and reporting suspected cases. For national updates, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.

Thank you for tuning in to today’s public health alert. Please return next week for more crucial updates. This has been a Quiet Please production. For more information and to listen to previous briefings, visit QuietPlease Dot A I.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good afternoon. This is an official public health briefing titled
H five M one bird Flu Briefing Public Health Alert.
Our purpose today is to inform the public about the
latest developments in the H five N one bird flu situation,
outline current public health measures, and provide guidance to keep
our communities safe. The H five N one avian influenza

(00:22):
virus continues to impact both animal and human health, with
recent confirmed outbreaks in poultry and dairy cattle across multiple
states and new cases in California dairy herds as recently
as March twenty twenty five. According to the California Department
of Food and Agriculture and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, the current risk of H five N one

(00:44):
to the general public remains low because the virus does
not easily transmit between people. However, monitoring remains rigorous due
to the potential for the virus to change, which could
increase its risk level. The alert level is currently set
at more moderate precaution for the general population and high
precaution for agricultural workers and those in contact with live

(01:07):
poultry or dairy cattle. Symptoms of H five and one
infection can range from mild to severe. You should seek
immediate medical attention if you experience high fever above one
hundred and one degrees fahrenheit, shortness of breath, persist in
vomiting or diarrhea, confusion, or chest pain, especially if you

(01:28):
have had recent exposure to sick poultry, dairy cattle, or
raw milk. Mild symptoms such as sore throat, mild cough,
muscle aches, or low grade fever may be monitored at home.
If these symptoms worsen or you develop additional serious symptoms,
contact your health care provider for guidance. Containment protocols for

(01:48):
those working with poultry, live stock, or in high risk
environments include mandatory use of personal protective equipment and ninety
five respirators, gloves down, and eye protection at all times
when handling potentially infected animals or materials. People exposed to
sick birds or cattle must report symptoms, immediately, seek prompt testing,

(02:12):
limit contact with others until results are confirmed, and follow
farm specific quarantine and biosecurity measures. Recent directives mandate bi
monthly testing and ongoing surveillance for facilities previously affected. Guidelines
for the general public in order of priority. First, if
you do not work directly with farm animals or poultry,

(02:33):
your risk is very low. There is no need for
routine testing or panic. Second, avoid unnecessary contact with live
or dead birds or mammals, and do not consume raw
milk or eggs from sources suspected of H five one contamination. Third,
every one aged six months in older is encouraged to
keep seasonal flu and COVID nineteen vaccines current. These vaccines

(02:58):
do not protect against H five n US one directly,
but may reduce the likelihood of severe disease and viral reassortment. Fourth,
all individuals should practice good hand hygiene and avoid touching
their eyes, nose, or mouth after contact with animals. Fifth,
monitor for updates as the situation may evolve. Stay informed
through official state and local health department channels. For further information.

(03:22):
In emergency contacts, please contact your local public health department.
In California, the Department of Public Health offers a hotline
at two one three two four zero seven four nine
one for guidance and reporting suspected cases. For national updates,
consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Thank
you for tuning in to today's public health alert. Please

(03:45):
return next week for more crucial updates. This has been
a quiet police production. For more information and to listen
to previous briefings, visit quiet please dot ai