The San Francisco Department of Public Health, in collaboration with various agencies, is closely monitoring the situation. The source of the virus is unclear, but officials suspect it may have come from bird or animal waste due to the city’s combined sewage system.
Health officials reassure that the risk to the general public remains low. While no cases have been reported in California cows, the virus has been found in wild birds and domestic poultry.
Experts express concern over the urban detection of the virus in San Francisco, a city with few dairy or animal farms. The wastewater surveillance program is continuing its investigation into the matter.
Although the specific strain of the H5 virus was not identified, a positive detection of genetic material associated with H5 indicates a potential presence of avian flu. This virus has been found in various states and in different wildlife and livestock populations across the country.
Efforts are underway to understand and address the recent findings of the virus, with close collaboration between states and federal agencies. The research organization responsible for the detection is actively monitoring the situation and analyzing data from multiple locations nationwide.
