Texas reports rare human case of avian flu virus

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) — A human case of avian influenza A(H5N1), also known as bird flu, has been confirmed in Texas, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported Monday

The person had direct contact with dairy cattle presumed to be infected with avian influenza, the department said. Their only reported symptom was eye inflammation, and they’re now being treated with the antiviral drug oseltamivir (commonly known by the brand name Tamiflu).

DSHS did not specify where the person lives or where they contracted the virus, however, officials last week confirmed an illness that impacted dairies in the Texas Panhandle was bird flu.

It’s the second known case of someone sickened by this strain of the virus in the U.S. The other occurred back in 2022 with a person in Colorado who worked with poultry, the Washington Post reported. The Texas case is the first linked to an exposure to cattle.

Texas DSHS has issued a health alert asking health care providers around affected dairies to be vigilant for more possible human cases.

DSHS said the case “does not change the risk for the general public, which remains low.”

Federal and state health officials are investigating both human and animal cases of avian influenza to understand how the virus is spreading.

According to the CDC, bird flu refers to the disease caused by infection with avian (bird) influenza (flu) Type A viruses. These viruses naturally spread among wild aquatic birds worldwide and can infect domestic poultry and other bird and animal species. The CDC’s website says bird flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, sporadic human infections with bird flu viruses have occurred.

Illnesses in people with H5N1 flu infections have ranged from mild (such as eye infection and upper respiratory symptoms) to severe (such as pneumonia and death), according to the DSHS release.

DSHS maintains that the cattle infections do not present concern for commercial milk supply, and said dairies are required to destroy or divert milk from any sick cows, and pasteurization kills avian flu viruses.