EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is reporting a the first human case of avian influenza A (H5N1), also known as the bird flu, in the State of Texas.
DSHS says the person had direct contact with dairy cattle presumed to be infected with bird flu.
DSHS did not say where the person lives or where they contracted the virus. However, officials last week confirmed that Texas cattle had been exposed to bird flu earlier this month.
Avian influenza A, according to the DSHS, is a type of flu variant that usually affects birds and can spread to other animals. It is extremely rare for the virus to pass from one person to another.
DSHS says its working with the Texas Animal Health Commission, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, and other state and federal health agencies to investigate and understand how the virus is spreading.
DSHS is providing help to dairy workers to minimize exposure, what the symptoms are and where they can get tested.
DSHS lists the following symptoms for the bird flu:
Eye infection
Upper respiratory symptoms
Pneumonia
and in severe cases, death
The DSHS is stating that the risk of receiving the bird flu is low.
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