Texas Confirms First Human Case of Bird Flu After Cattle Outbreak

Health officials in Texas have reported the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the state, and the second in the United States.

This comes less than a week after the virus was detected in dairy cattle across Texas and Kansas.

From Cows to Humans

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) identified the infected individual as someone who had been "in close contact with dairy cows presumed to be infected with avian influenza."

The primary symptom reported was conjunctivitis, commonly known as pink eye. This raises concerns about potential human-to-human transmission, although health officials maintain the general public faces a low risk.