The Bird Flu has once again made its appearance. This time, however, the case has emerged from an unusual source – cows. A recent incident in Texas has sparked concern and intrigue in the medical community.
A recent bird flu case in Texas has put the disease back into the spotlight. This instance is unique for several reasons. Firstly, the case has been linked to a person’s interaction with cows. Secondly, it marks the second time a human has contracted the virus in the United States, as confirmed by federal and state officials.
The patient, whose identity has been withheld for privacy reasons, exhibited symptoms of eye inflammation. Following this, the individual was tested for bird flu. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the infection soon after.
Interestingly, the patient was said to have been in direct contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected. Despite this, officials have clarified that the virus does not pose a significant risk to the public.
The incident has drawn attention to a new potential carrier of the bird flu virus – cows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has also gone on to confirm that the H5N1 strain of the virus has not undergone any changes that would make it more transmissible to humans.
Officials have reassured the public that the risk remains low. They have stated that, while infections among humans who have been in direct contact with infected animals are possible, the general public is not at a significant risk.
This case comes on the heels of reports of dairy cows in Texas and Kansas being infected with the virus. Following these reports, herds in Michigan, Idaho, and New Mexico also tested positive for bird flu.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, this is the first time the disease has been found in dairy cattle. The virus has been seen to thrive more in mammals in recent years.
Despite the infections in the dairy industry, officials have stated that the outbreak is not expected to threaten the nation’s commercial dairy supply.
Although rare in humans, those with close or prolonged exposures to infected animals or environments contaminated by them are at risk of infection. The first human infection of this virus in the U.S. occurred back in 2022.
The bird flu was first flagged as a threat to humans in 1997 during an outbreak in Hong Kong. Since then, the World Health Organization estimates that more than 460 people have died from bird flu infections over the past two decades.
