The CDC recommends that hospitalized flu patients be tested for bird flu within 24 hours to timely identify avian influenza A (H5N1) cases. While the public risk remains low, faster detection aids in tracing infections and providing swift medical response.

The CDC on Thursday urged labs nationwide to determine within 24 hours of admission whether people hospitalized with the flu have seasonal influenza or are infected with the bird flu that's behind an escalating outbreak in dairy cows and poultry.

A child ill with fever and conjunctivitis in San Francisco tested positive for bird flu but had no known source of transmission.

The CDC advises testing hospitalized flu patients for bird flu within 24 hours to promptly identify avian influenza A infections. Despite low public risk and no evidence of person-to-person spread, the agency emphasizes quicker testing to expedite health responses and minimize virus transmission among humans and animals.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking that people with flu severe enough to require hospitalization be tested for bird flu.