Galveston County has confirmed its first case of Avian Influenza (bird flu) in Texas City. A local resident found a sick bird exhibiting unusual behavior on December 5 and handed it over to Animal Control. The bird died shortly after and tests confirmed it had the H5N1 strain of the virus, as reported by CW39 Houston.
Two animal control officers who handled a case involving birds began showing symptoms similar to bird flu, raising health concerns. Initial rapid tests for H5N1 came back negative, and further testing by the Houston Laboratory Regional Network confirmed the results. However, two other employees from the Animal Resource Center are being closely monitored for any symptoms, according to Click2Houston.
Avian Influenza A mostly affects birds but can sometimes spread to humans. Symptoms in people can include fever, cough, sore throat, and eye irritation. If you’ve been around sick or dead birds and have symptoms, the Galveston County Health District advises seeing a doctor within 10 days. Don’t handle sick or dead birds—contact local health authorities if you find any. Texas City residents are urged to stay aware of this new health concern, as stated by Click2Houston.
