Texas finds 1st case of bird flu

The first confirmed case in Texas of a highly pathogenic bird flu was found in a wild bird this week, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The virus, known as a highly pathogenic avian influenza, or HPAI, was found in a great horned owl at a Wichita County rehabilitation facility. The owl showed clinical signs of HPAI, a highly contagious virus that is transmitted among wild and domestic birds, the Parks and Wildlife Department said.

The virus can spread to people, generally through contact with infected birds, as wells as through contaminated equipment, clothing and shoes of caretakers. Symptoms in people include diarrhea, lack of coordination, lethargy, coughing, sneezing and sudden death.

However, the risk of bird flu being transmitted from birds to people remains low, Parks and Wildlife Department officials said.

Nevertheless, officials recommend that people avoid unnecessary contact with wild birds. And if contact can’t be avoided, they recommend measures such as wearing gloves and face masks and washing hands.

For those with wild or domestic bird facilities, the Parks and Wildlife Department recommends enhancing biosecurity to minimize the risk of introducing bird flu to a flock. Wildlife rehab centers should also be cautious when taking in wild birds with signs of the disease and consider quarantining new birds to limit exposure.

This week’s discovery follows a yet-to-be confirmed detection of the disease in early April in a commercial pheasant flock in Erath County.

If people find birds with signs of bird flu, immediately contact the Parks and Wildlife Department or the Texas Animal Health Commission Region Office.