The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday (Nov 22) confirmed the country's first case of H5N1 bird flu infection in a child, who experienced mild symptoms and is recovering from their illness.

California's public health department had reported the case on Tuesday, but said there was no evidence of human-to-human transmission of the virus. The child's family members tested negative.

The CDC affirmed that currently there was no evidence of person-to-person spread of H5N1 bird flu from this child to others, but said it will continue contact tracing.

The agency said the child received flu antivirals and low levels of viral material were found in the initial specimen.

A follow-up test of the child several days later was negative for bird flu but was positive for other common respiratory viruses, it added.

So far, there has been no person-to-person spread associated with any of the H5N1 bird flu cases reported in the United States, the CDC said. The agency maintained the risk for the general public remains low.

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