virus

Authorities believe the virus was acquired via an animal source; however, the teen was not on a farm nor near any known wild birds or backyard poultry — common reservoirs for the disease.

Dairy industry experts say the virus entered California after local cows were shipped to another state and then returned to California.

“The idea that we have a child, a teenager, who is seriously ill from this virus is just really an utter tragedy. But sadly, it’s not surprising, given everything we’ve known about H5N1 and its potential to cause illness.”

Nevertheless, Nuzzo said, while this virus could “be a lot less deadly than what we’ve seen to date,” it could still be far more deadly than any pandemic we’ve seen in a long time, including COVID.

She said the virus may in the end not end up becoming more virulent or efficient at moving between people, “but I don’t think we want to wait around and on the chance that it might.”