Second U.S. Bird Flu Case Linked to Infected Cattle in Texas

Texas health officials recently confirmed the second case of avian influenza (bird flu) in a human in the United States. The patient contracted the virus through direct contact with infected cattle, as the disease rapidly spreads among herds across five states, affecting millions of animals on both land and sea.

The individual sought medical attention after experiencing eye inflammation, prompting testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The patient is currently receiving treatment with oseltamivir, an antiviral medication, and is on the path to recovery.

This marks the second reported human case of H5N1 in the U.S., following an earlier case in Colorado in April 2022, which was linked to direct contact with infected poultry.

Despite this new case, the overall risk to the general public remains low, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS). There are no immediate concerns regarding the safety of the nation’s dairy supply, as the pasteurization process required before products hit the market effectively eliminates the virus.

As of March 29, federal agencies including the CDC, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have stated that any potential product loss from infected cattle is too limited to significantly impact supply. This assurance extends to milk and other dairy products, with the agencies pointing out the nation’s expected higher production of dairy products in the spring.

In terms of what remains unknown, there is limited information on the virus’s spread through raw milk. As a precaution, the FDA has advised the dairy industry against producing or selling raw milk or unpasteurized milk cheese products made from cows showing any signs of illness, including those infected or exposed to the virus.In a surprising development, Minnesota reported a case of the virus in a goat on March 20, marking the first instance of the virus in a domestic ruminant in the U.S., as confirmed by the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Avian flu is typically classified into two categories based on its impact on poultry: highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). The current outbreak, affecting millions of birds globally, has begun to spread to sea mammals, with reports of over 5,000 sea lions succumbing to the virus in Peru in 2023.

While human cases of HPAI flu are rare and mostly result from prolonged exposure to infected birds, there have been no documented cases of human-to-human transmission of H5N1. Symptoms of the virus can range from mild to severe, with common symptoms including conjunctivitis and upper respiratory issues, while severe cases can lead to fever, shortness of breath, and in extreme cases, death.