Texas Man Contracts Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Linked to Dairy Cattle: Officials Urge Caution Amid Growing Concerns

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that a Texas man has contracted a "highly pathogenic" bird flu strain, consistent with the outbreak seen in dairy cows across five states. Despite this, authorities are downplaying the broader public health risks of the virus.

Texas Man Contracts Highly Pathogenic Bird Flu Linked to Dairy Cattle: Officials Urge Caution Amid Growing Concerns
(Photo : Unsplash/Christin Hume)

Texas Dairy Farm Worker Infected with H5N1 Bird Flu Strain

On Monday, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced that an individual working at a dairy farm, where several cows had tested positive for the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu strain, has also been infected.

Sid Miller, the Texas Department of Agriculture commissioner, noted that it remains unclear whether the individual contracted the virus from the infected cattle or the same source that affected the dairy herd, potentially from deceased waterfowl discovered on the premises. Regardless, Miller assured the public against undue concern.

The CDC echoed this sentiment, stating that the recent infection does not alter the assessment of the general public's risk regarding H5N1 bird flu, which it deems low. The infected individual, whose identity remains undisclosed, experienced minor symptoms, although authorities did not specify the exposure mode to the infected livestock.

According to the CDC, individuals with prolonged, unprotected contact with infected birds or animals, including livestock or contaminated environments, are at higher risk of contracting the virus.

While rare, cases of this avian flu strain in humans have a high fatality rate, with a recent fatality reported in Vietnam on March 23. This case in Texas marks the second human instance of this particular bird flu strain in the United States, with the first detected in a Colorado man in 2022.

There have also been four cases of human infection with a less virulent bird flu strain in the country. However, the CDC reported that global instances of both strains are more prevalent.

Global Bird Flu Surge Hits US Dairy Cows

A recent CDC study finds that bird flu cases surged globally from 2013 to 2022. The virus is now detected among dairy cows in several US states, including Texas, representing the first case in American cattle.

Federal experts note that this transmission among livestock marks a significant departure from bird flu viruses, which typically spread through direct avian contact and rarely infect mammals.

Initial infections in cattle are suspected to have stemmed from deceased wild birds found on the premises, with most cows recovering and only a few fatalities reported, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Despite concerns, the CDC asserts that the risk of human-to-human transmission remains low, particularly among individuals working closely with livestock.

While the infected cows did not contaminate the food supply, officials reassured that standard pasteurization and cooking procedures would eliminate any risk of virus transmission. Additionally, the USDA anticipates no adverse impacts on food safety or supply, averting potential price hikes for milk and dairy products.

Although the current strain of H5N1 bird flu does not exhibit airborne transmission or inter-cattle spread, ongoing monitoring is imperative to detect any mutation indicative of heightened human infectivity. Such vigilance is crucial for timely intervention and pandemic preparedness, especially if the virus crosses over to swine populations, which pose a greater risk of human transmission due to genetic similarities.

Despite these concerns, public health measures, including existing antiviral treatments and vaccine stockpiles, offer reassurance and effective management strategies, mitigating the need for undue panic.