Avian flu is hitting California’s San Joaquin Valley hard — nearly 20 million chickens, ducks and turkeys have been killed in the region since 2022, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

While the risk of infection is low, the detection of the virus across multiple farms is a reminder to take precautions, San Bernardino County health officials say.

A new study shows the H5N1 virus is likely more widespread in cows than had been reported. Since the outbreak was first reported in dairy cows last March, 70 people have been infected and one person has died.