SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — More people will likely head to the coast this weekend because of warmer weather. The California Department of Public Health warns people that bird flu is now a serious problem that could be found in marine mammals as well as birds.
Head to the Crissy Field or any Bay Area beach and you’ll likely see four-legged friends running around off leash.
“Tuti is six this year and she’s a Chihuahua mix,” said Emma De Leon, a San Jose resident.
Tuti and her owner Emma Deleon of San Jose visit Crissy Field once or twice a week.
“She loves it,’ said Deleon.
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People and their canine companions are urged to be extra careful now because of a new warning from the California Department of Public Health about bird flu.
Dr. John Swartzberg is a clinical professor emeritus at UC Berkeley School of Public Health.
“Well, for the first time we’ve seen in Ano Nuevo Beach, some of the seals, seals pups developing bird flu,” said Dr. Swartzberg. “We know that “bird flu” is really an influenza virus that can attack lots of mammals.”
Dr. Swartzberg says it’s a red flag that mammals can get infected.
The Marine Mammal Center reminds people and their pets that they should keep their distance and shouldn’t approach live or dead animals.
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“You should be careful when you’re approaching other mammals, particularly if you’re going to be, for example, on the beach and you see a seal, particularly if the seal looks sick, but a well animal could certainly be infected and spread the viruses as well as well,” said Dr. Swartzberg.
Dog owner Emma Deleon understands the danger.
“I see lions dead there all the time (at Fort Funston),” said Emma Deleon. “We don’t go near the animals. we just watch them from afar.”
“I’m careful. He stays close to me. He’s a little lap dog,” said pet owner Lucy Mckenna. “I always make sure he doesn’t approach any dead animal. We do have them here, mostly birds and an occasional seal.”
The Public Health Department says right now, the risk of infection to the general public remains very low and there is no evidence of seal to human transmission.
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