A recent case of bird flu in a dairy worker in Texas has health officials on high alert, though the virus has not become more contagious among cows or people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reassured the public that the virus has not changed in a way that makes it easily spread from human to human and current vaccines and medicines remain effective against it.
The World Health Organization is closely monitoring the situation and working with the CDC to assess the risk. This Texas case marks the second human case of bird flu in the U.S., with the first case reported in Colorado involving a prison inmate working on a poultry farm.
The virus, H5N1, has been circulating in birds worldwide since late 2021 and has led to the culling of millions of birds on poultry farms in the U.S. Symptoms of bird flu can range from mild to severe and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, and shortness of breath. In the Texas case, the patient only developed pinkeye and is recovering.
The virus was detected in cows on dairy farms, likely due to some interaction with birds. Samples have been sequenced to understand the transmission. Research is ongoing to determine how cows transmit the virus and what risks they pose to people. Fortunately, pasteurized milk is safe to drink as the process kills the virus, and any milk from affected cows is discarded before entering the milk supply.
Public health officials are urging the public to remain calm and follow proper hygiene practices to prevent the spread of the virus. With ongoing research and monitoring, they are hopeful that the situation can be contained and managed effectively. The collaboration between the CDC and WHO is crucial in ensuring timely and accurate information to protect public health.
