San Diego County is now the fifth locality in the state to report the environmental detection of H5 influenza virus or “bird flu,” according to public health officials.
The virus was detected in a wastewater scan on Sept. 1, but there have been no confirmed human cases.
There have also been no confirmed cases of the H5N1 B3.13 strain, also known as “Cattle Clade,” which is currently circulating in cattle and occasionally causing human disease in farm workers.
“San Diego County has a robust flu surveillance system,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, county interim public health officer.
“While we have no evidence of the virus in people or animals, it is important to be transparent with the public both about the detection status and that we are vigilant,” Kadakia said.
The county has a closed sewage system, which greatly reduces the probability that this detection is from an environmental source like migrating birds.
The virus may have been introduced into wastewater by the discarding of contaminated animal products, infected wild bird droppings entering the sewage system, human infection or animal infection, officials said.
For more information about H5, go to sandiegocounty.gov.