Two dairy workers in California tested positive for H5 bird flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Public Health announced.

The CDC said in a release that the two cases were unrelated – with the farmers working at different dairy farms in California’s Central Valley.

“CDC continues to collaborate closely with California and other state public health officials to support state-run efforts to control the spread of H5N1 from infected animals to humans,” the agency said.

Both individuals experienced mild symptoms, officials said, including conjunctivitis. Neither person reported respiratory symptoms or required hospitalization.

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Health officials said that the risks remain low for the public but has caused “rare, sporadic infections” among people who work with infected animals.

“The virus is widespread in wild birds and has caused ongoing outbreaks among poultry in the United States since 2022,” the CDC said.

Test tubes are seen labelled “Bird Flu” words in this illustration taken, June 10, 2024. (Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

In 2024, there have been 16 human cases in the U.S. of bird flu, including the two most recent infections in California.

FIRST CASE OF HUMAN BIRD FLU DIAGNOSED WITHOUT EXPOSURE TO INFECTED ANIMALS, CDC SAYS

Bird Flu Infection in 2024:

• Texas – 1
• Michigan – 2
• Colorado – 10
• Missouri – 1
• California – 2

Six of the 16 reported human cases have been linked to exposure to sick or infected dairy cows, the agency said. Nine cases had exposure to infected poultry.

Dairy cattle feed at a farm on March 31, 2017, near Vado, N.M. Another Michigan dairy worker has been diagnosed with bird flu. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

CDC Recommendations:

The government agency recommended that individuals should avoid contact with wild birds and sick or dead animals and not preparing or eating unpasteurized (raw) milk or raw cheese. 

The CDC also recommended that if you work with dairy cows or other animals that could be infected with H5N1 bird flu, to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) when in contact with (or around) dairy cows, raw milk, other animals, or surfaces and other items that might be contaminated with virus.

Cows graze in an oil production field in Midland, Texas, on February 13, 2019. Dairy cows infected with bird flu have died or been slaughtered by farmers because they did not recover in five U.S. states. (Reuters/Nick Oxford/ File Photo)

The CDC recommends that if you get sick after close contact with infected animals, contact your local health department and a health care provider for testing.

Symptoms of the bird flu include eye redness (conjunctivitis), mild flu-like upper respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — With just about a month left until the November election, the top candidates in the race for San Francisco mayor are battling to be voters’ top choice.

In interviews with the four leading candidates, ABC7 News anchor Reggie Aqui teamed up with our media partner The San Francisco Standard and its political and business reporter Annie Gaus, along with Kara Swisher, author and host of the “On with Kara Swisher” podcast. Our panel asked the candidates about some of the biggest issues facing the city: including public safety and crime, homelessness, downtown recovery and the economy, tourism and public perception of the city.

WATCH: Top San Francisco mayoral candidates detail vision for city, tackling crime, homelessness and more

All four candidates – Mayor London Breed, Aaron Peskin, Mark Farrell and Daniel Lurie – were in agreement about the severity of the homelessness problem in San Francisco, but they all differ in approaches for solutions.

In recent years, especially following the pandemic, San Francisco has struggled like other major metropolitan areas. But the city has particularly been the target of conservative media outlets or politicians, blaming Democratic policies for the city’s struggles.

All four candidates acknowledged the city has had a PR problem, but maintained their love for San Francisco and its ability to bounce back as a crown jewel of the West Coast.

Farrell: city perception cannot change until problems solved

Former interim mayor Mark Farrell said it’s going to take a leader who can help rapidly solve some of San Francisco’s biggest issues before the city’s reputation can actually be restored.

“Unless you fix the underlying issues that are truly making it tough for people who live here – but also people that visit here – to me, it’s like lipstick on a pig, right? We need to have sustainable growth, sustainable difference in San Francisco,” Farrell said.

He said he will also prioritize marketing the city to the business and tourist community.

Lurie says he knows how to deliver on big projects

Levi’s heir and nonprofit executive Daniel Lurie said his years of experience at the helm of Tipping Point, his antipoverty nonprofit, makes him the most qualified in these types of projects.

“I’ve housed over 40,000 people since 2015. I know how to get big things done. And the key component of all of it is holding people accountable. If you want more of the same, you got four other people to choose from. If you want something different, if you want change in this city, I’m all I’m here for it,” Lurie said.

Lurie also touted his work on Super Bowl 50, saying then-Mayor Ed Lee reached out to him to chair the bid to bring the Super Bowl to San Francisco.

“It wasn’t because I was a sports guy. It was because he knew that I could deliver and we did. We brought a global sporting event $240 million of economic revenue,” he said.

Peskin: Board experience taught him to “work with people” on major issues

Aaron Peskin – longtime SF politician and current President of the Board of Supervisors – says his years of working with different types of people on the board has taught him cooperation, which he thinks will be key in tackling some of these issues.

“I try to figure out what the best path forward is. I work with experts. I try to bring people together,” he said.

Peskin cited his recent work with Mayor London Breed on a mixed-use zoning project downtown, despite her being his current political opponent.

“The work that Mayor Breed and I did to change the zoning downtown, to build more housing; the work that I’m doing with my colleagues, to provide more affordable financing so we can address our housing crisis. But ultimately you listen to people and then you implement,” he said.

Breed says SF is on the rise again thanks to her leadership

Public safety and crime are main contributing factors when it comes to the international view of San Francisco in recent years.

Recent incidents – like the shooting of 49ers wide receiver Ricky Pearsall – have garnered negative national attention for the city. But the incumbent mayor insists, San Francisco’s overall numbers are trending in the right direction.

Breed said crime rates are improving, largely due to newer technology police departments are able to take advantage of.

“Crime is lower than it’s been in a decade. And one of the great things we have now that we didn’t have before was 21st century technology. Never in the history of our police department were we able to use drones and cameras and other equipment, which has led to a remarkable change around crime,” she said.

But the mayor acknowledges, there are still improvements to be made across the board.

“We are well on our way. And when I say well on our way, many larceny thefts overall are down, especially car break ins,” Breed said. “This year, we’re excited about the new numbers, the new data. But again, unless you feel it, we of course still have work to do. And I acknowledge that.”

You can watch the full interviews with all four candidates, here.

The Seattle Mariners’ trade for left fielder Randy Arozarena is now complete.

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The team announced Friday that minor league starting pitcher Ty Cummings is headed to the Tampa Bay Rays as the player to be named later from the July 26 deal that also sent outfielder Aidan Smith and right-handed starting pitcher Brody Hopkins to the Rays in exchange for Arozarena.

Cummings, 22, was a seventh-round pick out of Campbell University in 2023. He’s outside of Seattle’s top 30 prospects, according to MLB Pipeline.

In 25 starts with High-A Everett this season, Cummings went 4-5 with a 4.17 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 124 strikeouts over 116 2/3 inning pitched. Opponents batted .263 off the right-hander.

Smith, 20, is now the No. 9 prospect and Hopkins, 22, the No. 12 prospect in the Rays’ organization.

The Mariners made the deal for Arozarena, a 2023 All-Star selection, with hopes he’d help spark a struggling offense that played a major factor in the team squandering a 10-game lead in the American League West. However, Seattle still fell short of the playoffs at 85-77 and finished one game behind the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers for the second and third wild card berths.

In 54 games after the trade to Seattle, Arozarena slashed .231/.356/.377 with 14 doubles, five home runs, 23 RBIs, four stolen bases, 28 walks and 68 strikeouts.

Arozarena is under club control through the 2026 season.

More on the Seattle Mariners

• Mariners name Kevin Martinez as president of business operations
• Morosi: What the Mariners’ priority should be this offseason
• Mariners Stats: Where players, team finished on leaderboards
• Morosi: How Mariners can approach contracts of struggling vets
• Mariners manager Dan Wilson reflects on stretch run, looks ahead
• The key things Dipoto said about Seattle Mariners’ offseason plans

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