Texas officials Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, or avian influenza) has been detected in Austin-Travis County after testing was conducted on dead birds that were discovered in North Austin earlier this month, it was confirmed Wednesday.
The Austin Department of Public Health and the Texas Department of State Health Services said that tests on the dead birds conducted by an area veterinary laboratory discovered the virus.
Austin Public Health issued the advisory Wednesday as a reminder to the public that people who work with infected wild birds, poultry or dairy cows are more likely to contract the virus if they are exposed to a sick or infected dead animal.
While avian influenza typically affects wild birds, especially waterfowl and domestic poultry, more than 60 human cases of avian influenza have been detected throughout the United States.
A patient with bird flu had viral mutations, raising concern about its spread between humans
A person touches a test tube labeled “bird flu” on January 14, 2023. (Reuters/Dado Rovik/Illustration/archive photo)
A patient in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the first human case Bird flu He died Monday, according to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH).
The agency said the patient, who has not been identified, is over 65 years old and reportedly has underlying medical conditions.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced last week that the same patient had been found to have a mutant version of the virus, indicating the possibility of bird flu spreading from one human to another.
Louisiana reports the first human death linked to bird flu in the United States
Mallard in the river (Istock)
Both the CDC and LDH stress that the risk to the public remains low.
But officials warned against those who enter Contact with birdsPoultry or cows are more susceptible to infection with the virus.
As of Friday, there were 66 confirmed human cases of bird flu, including the Louisiana case, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of these, 37 are in California, 11 in Washington state, and 10 in Colorado.
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This undated electron micrograph provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows two influenza A (H5N1) viruses, a type of avian influenza virus. (Cynthia Goldsmith, Jackie Katz/CDC via AP, File)
About 40 cases were linked to exposure to livestock.
Bird flu is Highly contagious virus It can be spread through contact with infected animals, through equipment and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers, according to the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
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Austin health officials encourage anyone who comes across a sick or dead bird to contact the Texas Animal Health Commission at 800-550-8242. Officials also encourage anyone with a sick or dead pet bird to contact their veterinarian.
Fox News Digital's Luis Casiano contributed to this report.
