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Wild birds are testing positive for bird flu again in LA County. Here’s what you should know
Seagulls gather near a fishing boat in Northern California.
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Wild birds are testing positive for bird flu again in LA County. Here’s what you should know
L.A. County health officials are asking residents to take precautions after a handful of wild birds tested positive for avian influenza, also known as H5 bird flu. LAist's Cato Hernandez explains how to keep yourself, and your pets, safe.
Topline:
L.A. County health officials are asking residents to take precautions after a handful of wild birds tested positive for avian influenza, also known as H5 bird flu. It comes about a year after an outbreak hit the state.
Where were the birds? The health department says the five birds, mostly gulls, were found across L.A. County in November. A majority were along the coast in Manhattan Beach, Malibu, San Pedro and Palos Verdes. Another was found in Van Nuys.
Why it matters: While risk to the public is low, bird flu can cause problems in the agriculture industry. Multiple outbreaks in poultry and dairy farms affected workers’ health and led to a statewide emergency in 2024. Pets can also catch it — cats in particular have gotten very sick.
How it spreads: California hasn’t reported any person-to-person spread, but last year, there were over three dozen human cases in 2024. Humans typically catch bird flu when they’re in close contact with an infected animal, while animals have been shown to get it by consuming infected raw meat or unpasteurized milk.
What you should do: The health department says you and your pets should keep away from birds and avoid direct contact, including from surfaces where bird droppings could be. They’re asking the public not to feed the wild animals and report sick and dead birds to your local animal control service, which can be found by calling 211.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
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