Texas, USA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert regarding a confirmed case of human infection with bird flu on a commercial dairy farm in Texas. The infected farm worker developed conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye, on March 27, and subsequent testing revealed a positive result for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), according to the CDC.
This incident marks the first reported case of HPAI spreading from cows to humans, with previous reports only mentioning infections in dairy cattle and wild birds in the Texas area. Despite testing positive for the virus, the patient did not display any additional symptoms and did not require hospitalization. The individual has since received antiviral treatment and is currently in recovery, with no cases reported among household members, the CDC confirmed.
Testing conducted by the CDC on the patient’s virus genome, as well as sequences from cattle, wild birds, and poultry, revealed minor changes that do not enhance the virus’ ability to infect mammals. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has confirmed incidences of infections in dairy cattle herds across multiple states, with Nebraska imposing temporary restrictions on cattle imports due to the bird flu outbreak.
The patient in Texas represents the second confirmed case of human infection with bird flu in the United States, following a previous case in Colorado involving contact with infected poultry. The CDC emphasized that the current risk level remains low but cautioned individuals engaged in activities that may lead to exposure to infected birds, cattle, or other animals to take necessary precautions.
Historically, the virus has demonstrated high fatality rates, claiming the lives of over 50 percent of infected individuals between 2003 and 2016. The ongoing outbreak has impacted approximately 82 million birds across 48 states, marking the most severe bird flu outbreak in U.S. history.