First Human Case Of H5N1 Bird Flu Confirmed In Texas, US

TEXAS – The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has confirmed the first case of bird flu in a person in the state.

The patient became ill after being near dairy cows that might have had the virus. The main symptom was conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye.

This comes after reports last week suggested the virus might have spread among dairy cows. The Texas Animal Health Commission had said they found bird flu in some cows, leading to increased monitoring across the state.

To address this, DSHS issued a health alert to doctors and healthcare workers, asking them to be on the lookout for bird flu symptoms in people who had been near infected animals.

Officials say the risk of the virus spreading widely is low because it usually doesn’t pass easily from person to person. However, they are investigating carefully, working with local, state, and federal partners to contain any potential spread.

Tests on animals like wild birds, cats, and dairy cows found some had the flu virus. Further tests confirmed it was the bird flu strain known as H5N1, marking the first time it’s been found in cows in the U.S.

DSHS is now working closely with other agencies to investigate any suspected cases of bird flu in both people and animals. They stress the importance of keeping an eye out for new cases to protect public health.

As investigations continue, health officials remain alert, aiming to prevent the spread of bird flu and keep communities safe in Texas and beyond.