Rare Human Case of Bird Flu Reported in Texas, Linked to Infected Cattle

A rare case of bird flu has been reported in Texas, after a person came into contact with cattle suspected of being infected with the virus. This comes in the wake of federal agencies' announcement that the virus had spread to dairy cattle across multiple states, including Texas.

Confirmation and Treatment

The Texas Department of State Health Services stated that the patient's sole symptom was eye inflammation. The individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was tested late last week, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the results over the weekend. The patient is now undergoing treatment with the antiviral medication oseltamivir.

Characteristics of Bird Flu

Human cases of bird flu, also known as H5N1, can produce a range of symptoms, including mild ones like eye infection and respiratory symptoms, to more severe symptoms like pneumonia and even death, according to Texas officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mentioned that this is only the second instance of a person in the U.S. contracting bird flu, a virus that primarily infects wild birds but can spread to domestic species.

Spread and Impact

The virus has caused the deaths of millions of birds across the world in its latest outbreak. It has also spread to other mammal populations, killing sea lions, seals, and even a polar bear. Federal agencies announced that dairy cattle are the latest animal group to have contracted the virus, with cattle in Texas, Kansas, and Michigan believed to be impacted. This marks the first time that dairy cattle in the U.S. have dealt with this particular infection.

Low Risk of Human-to-Human Transmission

The Texas health department has reassured the public that it remains "extremely rare" for bird flu to spread from person to person. According to the department, initial testing shows that the virus has not changed in a way to make it more likely to spread among humans. The department is providing guidance to affected dairies about how to minimize workers' exposure and how people who work with affected cattle can monitor for flu-like symptoms and get tested.

Previous Case and Transmission Information

The last reported case of bird flu in the U.S. was in Colorado in 2022, where the infected individual was involved in slaughtering poultry presumed to be infected. The person later reported feeling fatigued but recovered after being treated with oseltamivir.

Close or lengthy unprotected contact with infected birds or places that sick birds or their mucous, saliva, or feces have touched may also pose a greater risk of H5N1 virus infection, according to the CDC.

Human Symptoms of Bird Flu

Health alerts sent out to clinicians have outlined the signs and symptoms of bird flu in humans, which are similar to those of a typical flu. These include a fever of at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or a feeling of being feverish, and additional symptoms such as chills, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headaches, fatigue, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. Notably, eye redness, or conjunctivitis, sets bird flu apart from the seasonal flu.