
Austin and the larger Texas area are currently experiencing a substantial increase in flu cases, with public health officials indicating a jump from moderate to high levels of activity. Schools are particularly feeling the impact, as the Austin Independent School District (Austin ISD) reported a spate of sick students — 12 sent home on a recent Wednesday, followed by 15 more the next day. Dr. Desmar Walkes, Medical Director at Austin Public Health, stressed the severity of the situation to CBS Austin, "We are seeing increases in the number of flu cases in our school systems."
Complicating this year's flu season is the emergence of bird flu cases among the local wildlife, notably ducks found deceased at a northwest Austin office complex that, tested positive for the virus. Despite the low risk to humans, alertness and caution remain high. "It's important that people don't handle sick or dead birds. Call 311 for assistance on how to get those dead birds disposed of, or sick birds handled," Dr. Walkes advised according to CBS Austin.
The prevalent strain, Influenza A, poses a particular risk to adults — especially those older, younger, pregnant, or with chronic conditions, Dr. Walkes said to CBS Austin. Meanwhile, public health experts recommend against using bird feeders to reduce the risk of contact with potentially infected birds, an approach that aims to mitigate the spread of bird flu through avian congregation near residential areas.
Elsewhere, a dead wild bird in Austin was reported to have had bird flu, with health services keeping a close watch on the situation. Despite the presence of bird flu being confirmed in 66 human cases across the nation — tragically including one death — local experts like Dr. Jason Bowling, an infectious disease specialist at UT Health San Antonio, echo the sentiment that human transmission remains low. "There's not been any person-to-person spread of this bird flu strain," Bowling said, as reported by TPR.org.
Concerning the risks associated with this outbreak, Dr. Bowling indicated that those in close contact with animals, such as dairy farm workers, are at an elevated risk. However, "The good news also is that we have antiviral treatments that are the same ones we use for human strains of flu, work against this bird flu, so that if someone gets sick, there is a treatment," he reassured in his statement to TPR.org. As flu season continues to chug along at full speed, public health experts can't stress enough: wash your hands frequently, stay home if you're ill, and consider getting vaccinated. The flu punch this season is coming in multi-faceted, and Austin's health narrative is far from over.